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| Refugee Mixed Media 30 cm x 40 cm Ronald van den Boogard, 2017 |
This
off course did not happen. She just sent me an email, but as this
article is totally void of any drama, it seemed a good idea to add
some.
The request was simple. Make two abstract works on paper of 40 x 30 centimeters which are a pair.
The request was simple. Make two abstract works on paper of 40 x 30 centimeters which are a pair.
Very
seldom do I do requests or abstracts. Ms. Jahn had seen some elements
in my representational work that by itself are abstract. This
observation turned the question into a challenge.
Size
is undisputed and despite the fact I could bore you to death with the
differences, weights, manufacturing methods, feel and so forth of
paper, it is singular: paper in the end is just that. Not hard to get
either.
Remain the real challenges: abstracts and pairing two works.
Remain the real challenges: abstracts and pairing two works.
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| The Refuge Mixed Media 30 cm x 40 cm Ronald van den Boogaard, 2017 |
The
most common definition of abstract is: my X-year old can do this.
Where X is any number between two and six. There are many others, but
the simplest is off course that abstract art is void of any
representation. From here it leads to many -isms and other sub
divisions. Recently I heard the term meditational abstracts, which
was new to me.
I
had not done any abstract work for well over a decade, but I am a
professional so I should be able to achieve a minimum quality. It
turned out to be a lot harder than expected. The first tries were not
up to my self imposed standards. The third attempt at a pair of
drawings I deemed good. Later on I was told that I wasn’t the only
one going through this process of failure.
What
constitutes a pair? Two pieces which are similar? That would be the
most obvious answer. Two opposites also make up a pair. A single
piece cut in two. A question and an answer. There are numerous other
possibilities.
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| Design by Ronald van den Boogaard |
Twenty
two artists from four countries were facing the same
challenges. The only requirements set in stone are the size and
paper. The abstract and the pairing question are answered in a
multitude of techniques. Painting, drawing, collage, digital,
encaustic. Each applied their own handwriting and each had their own
approach to the Pair.
Couple
this with a variety of backgrounds, regional, cultural and gender
differences it should not come as a surprise that the “Paper Pairs”
show exhibits a very wide array of solutions. Yet there is a great
coherence within this diversity. A conspiracy to be similar in
difference or vice versa.
The
format has given me the incentive to continue with abstracts as an
addition to my work and most certainly more pairs will come out of my
hands. I am sure that my companions in this show will suffer similar
after effects. Just as I am sure that we are all proud to be part of
the “Paper Pairs”.
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| Design by Ronald van den Boogaard Contact: ron@ronvdb.com or info@EbbaJahn.com Buy Paper Pair or one at a time. |