I recently had the pleasure of a studio visit by friend and peer David Ebony. Besides giving advice about my work, he suggested a few shows and artists to see, including Hans Hartung whom I had not heard of.
My first thought in the gallery was - this guy is around my age, living here in NYC with me. And it is from the 80s, but I was surprised to discover that Hartung was a German guy born in wartime Germany who died in the 80s, because his work is so relevant to now.
Although the deeper I went into the show the more I felt his European mid-century sensibility. Polke, Kiefer, Kippenberger and Ritcher β I saw aspects of each of these artists. But with Hartung it felt different. He did what I am currently trying to do. This is a strange feeling to have. I was envious and inspired at the same time; he has painted in exactly the aesthetic that I aspire to right now anyway. He has managed to make paint the element and the moment of inspiration, captured like a camera captures light -- a moment frozen in time.
Hans Hartung is allowing me to float effortlessly in that moment with utter contentment. The painting above titled TE20 is the perfect middle way between abstraction and representation. It is not clear whether the blue is engulfing the black or the black is slowly emerging from the blue. It sucks the viewer in - eerie, intimidating, and beautiful, fearsome and commanding respect, breathing, pulsing and creaking.
Neither good nor evil; it just is. Have you ever watched photographic paper develop in a darkroom tray? TE20 could be likened to this chemical process. It is sublime and alchemical but its presence is physical so you have to believe what you see. Hans used a variety of mediums. The work above was made with acrylic paint and a spray gun.
