Painting

Frieder Nake

Frieder Nake is a mathematician, computer scientist and pioneer of computer art.
He is also a professor at the University of Bremen, which is where I got introduced to his teachings in computer sciences and computer generated graphics.
Frieders way of thinking had and still has a great influence on the way I look at certain things, not just arts. I remember the first time I watched him talk in front of us students at the university and the way he explained to us that “this is a great opportunity” for us. He explained that we can focus solely on getting good grades and he would grant them (for the appropriate amount of work and understanding of course), but he suggested that we rather want to ask ourselves, what it is that we are doing at this institution, question our surroundings and situation. What is it that we are learning and to what end? Is the goal to be productive or is the way of learning things far more interesting and possibly and inherently more fulfilling by way of constant progress?

Philipp

Philipp is a good friend of mine. Our friendship has changed a couple of times over the many years since we know each other or maybe that’s just evolution. Thankfully it has never been anecdotal,… yet. Painted until late at night and into the darkness.

Ikarus

The second meditation on hubris.
After the first painting in this series was finished, –named “Ikarus”–, the artist began to reflect anew on the subject. This time it felt more relaxed. Not framed by guilt anymore. It felt honest.
While the first painting can be viewed as symbolic and by that holding beauty within. The second painting, –this one–, is raw. Stripped away are the things that where fake (the bloody eye never happened). They may have been necessary to be able to handle the shame associated with what happened. Make it more dramatic in order to look at it from a higher vantage point. This time around the artist felt more at ease with his past, more one with what he was, has become and where he may go next. Therefore this painting is far more direct in its approach. No need for beauty. Show the uglyness, accept it. Let the painting bleed.

Ikarus

A meditation on the artists own hubris in his adolescent and young adult years.
The negative effects of the self destructive ways in which the artist lived are literally reflected back at him through his mirror image after a serious bike accident. Reckless in his behavior he was pulled back by this experience and forced to reflect upon it, but didn’t. Continuing this path he suffered even more accidents, adopted alienating behavior towards others, as addiction and self harm became almost a norm, invisible to others and himself. One can certainly argue that self harm was the unconscious attempt at redemption, although doomed to fail.

This painting and it companion “Idiot” are the needed psychological reflection of this time. An attempt at reconciliation and forgiveness. The artists became much more aware of the origins of his behavior and in turn calmed down, although still not fully. And by this sentiment the painting marks a milestone, but no end.