Untitled (2019-13), 2019 by Stephan Baumkötter

Void of any allegorical subject and conceived solely of their own volition, Baumkötter’s works engage viscerally. Here oil paintstick is applied directly by hand, drawn and then rubbed into the surface, layer by layer. At first, the monochromatic appearance offers a simple proposition. However, over time these paintings on paper and canvas reveal complex structures and shifts in colour. As the experience evolves, the paintings respond to the surrounding light and reflect an emotional state. Understanding colour not as constant and precise but rather as a range of conditions, allows the artist to create deeply engaging works. Here the paintings present an opportunity to experience colour as a physical matter, rather than projected light on a screen, industrially made flat and stable colour or printed colour, which dominates our everyday.