The absurd creates a breach in consciousness. The yawning abyss can create dizziness, but also a feeling of depth and freedom. I never find my motifs by thinking them up. They are simply there. It’s a bit like dreaming: some things can be explained, but most things remain a mystery. I have been making woodcuts almost exclusively since my studies. I like the clarity and rigor of this technique. Apart from a few subtly colored backgrounds, my work is dominated by cool black and white. It is a haven of peace that I create for myself, but I also want to offer it to the viewer.
I am showing the large-format woodcut KAPUTT MACHEN for the first time at the BBKarium. It was essentially created around the turn of the year 2020-21, i.e. at a time that was characterized by both uncertainty and calm due to the coronavirus. Beneath this are several other motifs that reach far back into the past. They shimmer like shadows through the structural flurry. Repeatedly discarding and revising ideas is my way of working. Here, however, I have almost celebrated it, made it a theme. Because often enough I come into conflict with the expectations and customs of our time. Digital media are increasingly setting the pace. Living and exhibiting slowness is my way of questioning the status quo. (Incidentally, the same applies to the economy and hermeticism of my work).
Further information about the artist: francabartholomaei.de
Franca Bartholomäi:
KAPUTT MACHEN, 2020-21, woodcut on China paper, print size 90 x 115 cm
DysPLAYs, 2022, paper cut/collage, variable size