This work, entitled Ode to Tàpies, is a layered etching on handmade paper that the artist bought from Sastres Paperers in Banyoles, Catalonia. The paper's unique texture is an essential part of the image. The rough scratches, graphic marks and grainy textures allude to material art, consciously embracing imperfection and accidental marks.
The shape composition - a monumental triangular shape with a crossbar - carries an architectural and almost symbolic power. The turquoise and dark blue tones create depth, while the deep red circle forms a striking focal point that immediately attracts the eye. Antoni Tàpies' influences are palpable in the texture, use of materials and poetic abstraction.
This work combines graphics, experimentation and a strong sense of material. The result is an intense, tactile image that feels both hushed and powerful.
Herman Ketz (Enschede) is a draughtsman, graphic artist, sculptor and assemblage artist. After years as a self-taught artist, he followed the evening course at the AKI in Enschede from 1993 to 1997. His work is characterised by the reuse of old materials: used etching plates, wood.. Read more…