“A work from the “black series”. Here I deliberately only use pure black on the canvas. But the works are not just black due to their nature (i.e. smooth, dull, glossy and matt surfaces). Rather, they are black AND light. I use the black to allow the work to enter into a relationship with its surroundings. Depending on the light, the surrounding colors, the viewer’s position and the angle of view, the picture appears slightly different each time.
The middle black stripe segment has slightly less gloss than the upper and lower areas. The black in its various shades of gloss reflects the light and colors that hit the canvas.
In the work Noir et Lumière No.6, there is also a striking and offensive stripe of real rust. This connects the three levels of the painting, breaking through the black and creating a strong contrast. Although the oxidation process is already largely complete, the rust can still change in texture and appearance over the months and years.
The combination of black and rust, the textures and reflections lend the work a visual tension and attract the viewer’s attention. Every viewing enters into a relationship – between the work and the viewer. It is always a subjective interpretation and the true meaning of the artwork may and should, as so often, lie in the eye of the beholder.
For me, black is not just black. Depending on the gloss and texture, it means communication with the environment, i.e. the world directly in front of the canvas. Depending on the mindset, black can be negative, elegant or (and this is the interesting thing for me) it can even be understood as colorful when the light and colors of the environment are reflected in it in all their nuances. For me, “black” is so much more than just black.”
Björn Wiedemann, 13.03.2024
You can also watch a short clip of this work here on the video page.