The paintings in the series "ORNAMENTAL / TECHNOID / INSECTOID" are inspired by (repetitive) ornaments and use an "ornamental" approach to painting, meaning "beautiful and harmonious" brushstrokes. They are also inspired by the shapes of circuits and technical devices, as well as (protruding) body parts of insects. This confluence creates a somewhat bizarre "Gestalt" for our anthropocentric eyes.
I am fascinated by what I'm calling "ornament," since so much that surrounds us seems decorative rather than useful or utilitarian. This "ornament" embellishes our daily lives, almost unavoidably. Perhaps it is analogous to the way in which we humans are to some extend mere decoration for the genes that are working away underneath it all.
Especially in the early paintings here I use artificial colors, that don't tend to occur in nature, to avoid mere documentary representation.
I am fascinated by what I'm calling "ornament," since so much that surrounds us seems decorative rather than useful or utilitarian. This "ornament" embellishes our daily lives, almost unavoidably. Perhaps it is analogous to the way in which we humans are to some extend mere decoration for the genes that are working away underneath it all.
Especially in the early paintings here I use artificial colors, that don't tend to occur in nature, to avoid mere documentary representation.
Ornamental / Technoid / Insectoid
ORNAMENTAL FRAGMENTS (competing with each other and other entities)
2011 - 2022 (work in progress)
Acrylic, dispersion and household paint on canvas
60" x 72", 152 x 182 cm
2011 - 2022 (work in progress)
Acrylic, dispersion and household paint on canvas
60" x 72", 152 x 182 cm
This painting is a by-product of working on other paintings. I use leftover paint on brushes and diverted attention (or next to no attention) to continue working on it. The thumbnails show earlier stages of the painting from 2015, 2014 and 2011.
BLACK TO WHITE (ornamental)
2007
Acrylic on canvas
Each 18" x 18", 45.5 x 45.5 cm
2007
Acrylic on canvas
Each 18" x 18", 45.5 x 45.5 cm
I started with black (layer 1) and progressed to a top ornamental layer of white (layer 10)
TECHNOID / INSECTOID
2007
Digital print
Colors and dimension variable
2007
Digital print
Colors and dimension variable
Digital print derived from painting ORNAMENTAL / TECHNOID / INSECTOID from 1996
ORNAMENTAL / TECHNOID / INSECTOID
2002
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
55" x 31.5", 140 cm x 80 cm
2002
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
55" x 31.5", 140 cm x 80 cm
A. Z.; Berlin
THE DARKER SIDE OF ORNAMENTAL FRAGMENTS
1997
Household paint on distressed canvas
20" x 20", 50 x 50 cm
1997
Household paint on distressed canvas
20" x 20", 50 x 50 cm
FRAGMENT - ORNAMENT I
1997
Household paint on distressed canvas
20" x 20", 50 x 50 cm
1997
Household paint on distressed canvas
20" x 20", 50 x 50 cm
FRAGMENT - ORNAMENT II
1997
Household paint on distressed canvas
20" x 20", 50 x 50 cm
1997
Household paint on distressed canvas
20" x 20", 50 x 50 cm
FRAGMENT - ORNAMENT III
1997
Household paint on distressed canvas
46" x 14", 117 x 36 cm
1997
Household paint on distressed canvas
46" x 14", 117 x 36 cm
M.-L. M., New York
LANDSCAPE WITH THREE ORNAMENTAL BLURBS
1999
Acrylic on canvas
ca. 60" x 45", 153 x 114 cm
1999
Acrylic on canvas
ca. 60" x 45", 153 x 114 cm
P. G., Milano
FRAGMENTED SYMMETRY I
2004
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Two panels, each 24" x 48", 61 cm x 122 cm
2004
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Two panels, each 24" x 48", 61 cm x 122 cm
Schopenhauer or Picasso or Mies van der Rohe or... supposedly said that "symmetry is the art of the primitive" (or of the allegedly simple-minded or naïve, for that matter). Luckily, this painting is not symmetrical.
F. C., Milano
F. C., Milano
FRAGMENTED SYMMETRY II
1997
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Two panels, each 23.5 x 35", 60 x 89 cm
1997
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Two panels, each 23.5 x 35", 60 x 89 cm
H. P., Munich
ORNAMENTS AT WORK
1996
Acrylic and pigment on distressed canvas
ca. 45" x 60", 114 cm x 153 cm
1996
Acrylic and pigment on distressed canvas
ca. 45" x 60", 114 cm x 153 cm
Work in progress 1988-1996, T. R., Frankfurt
ORNAMENTAL / TECHNOID / INSECTOID
1996
Pigment and acrylic on gilded MDF (wood)
Each 18" x 18" x 2 2/8", 45 x 45 x 5 cm
1996
Pigment and acrylic on gilded MDF (wood)
Each 18" x 18" x 2 2/8", 45 x 45 x 5 cm
G. M., Milano
BLUE WITH MOSS
1996
Pigment on wood
9.5" x 9.8" x 2", 24 x 25 x 5 cm
1996
Pigment on wood
9.5" x 9.8" x 2", 24 x 25 x 5 cm
P. G., Milano
ORNAMENTAL / TECHNOID / INSECTOID
1995
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1995
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
City of Heidelberg
ORNAMENTAL STRUCTURES (Hidden by Nebulae)
1994
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1994
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
M. A. Sch., Frankfurt
ORNAMENTAL / TECHNOID / INSECTOID
1994
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Each 35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1994
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Each 35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
A combination of paintings
ORNAMENTAL UNIVERSE
1994
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1994
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
W. E.; Heidelberg
TECHNOID / INSECTOID I
1994
Acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1994
Acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
TECHNOID / INSECTOID II
1994
Acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1994
Acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
TECHNOID / INSECTOID III
1994
Acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1994
Acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
ORNAMENTAL STRUCTURES (Framing the Universe)
1994
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Each panel 19.7" x 19.7", 50 x 50 cm
1994
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Each panel 19.7" x 19.7", 50 x 50 cm
V. T.; Dublin
TECHNOID / INSECTOID (Fluorescent Red)
1994
Acrylic on distressed canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1994
Acrylic on distressed canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
ORNAMENTAL BREAK-DOWN (With Fake Drips)
1994
Dispersion paint and acrylic on canvas
93" x 122", 236 cm x 310 cm
1994
Dispersion paint and acrylic on canvas
93" x 122", 236 cm x 310 cm
ORNAMENT & AUTO & THING (With a Little Help From My Friends)
1994
Dispersion paint, fluorescent and gold paint, acrylic paint, pigments and pencil on canvas
93" x 122", 236 cm x 310 cm
1994
Dispersion paint, fluorescent and gold paint, acrylic paint, pigments and pencil on canvas
93" x 122", 236 cm x 310 cm
I. & K. M., Frankfurt
ORNAMENTS IN SPACE
1993
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1993
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
S. K.; Freiburg
ORNAMENTAL / INSECTOID (Gold On Deep Blue)
1993
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
43" x 43", 109 x 109 cm
1993
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
43" x 43", 109 x 109 cm
S. K.; Freiburg
ORNAMENTAL / TECHNOID / INSECTOID (Blue On Deep Blue)
1993
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
43" x 43", 109 x 109 cm
1993
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
43" x 43", 109 x 109 cm
City of Heidelberg
THE HEROIC BATTLE OF PSEUDO - ORNAMENTS AGAINST NON-ORNAMENTAL BASTARDS
1992
Acrylic on canvas
48" x 72", 122 x 182 cm
1992
Acrylic on canvas
48" x 72", 122 x 182 cm
N. & S. d. O., Milano
HORROR VACUI
1993
Acrylic on canvas
20" x 59", 50 x 150 cm
1993
Acrylic on canvas
20" x 59", 50 x 150 cm
A. H.; Heidelberg
BLUE SQUARE OVER ORNAMENTAL / TECHNOID / INSECTOID
1991
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
1991
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
35.5" x 35.5", 90 x 90 cm
G. B.; Ludwigsburg
RANDOMNESS VS. PSEUDO ORNAMENTALISM
1992
Acrylic on canvas
43.3" x 43.3", 110 x 110 cm
1992
Acrylic on canvas
43.3" x 43.3", 110 x 110 cm
JANUS HEAD
1989
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Two panels, each 47.25" x 47.25", 120 x 120 cm
1989
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
Two panels, each 47.25" x 47.25", 120 x 120 cm
ORNAMENTAL FACE WITH TWO ORNAMENTAL FACES
1990
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
49.2" x 71.5", 125 x 179 cm
1990
Pigments and acrylic on canvas
49.2" x 71.5", 125 x 179 cm
CHANCE | ANALOG | DIGITAL
1989
Acrylic on canvas
48" x 72", 122 x 182 cm
1989
Acrylic on canvas
48" x 72", 122 x 182 cm
MARLBORO | INSECTS | ORNAMENT
1989
Insects, acrylic and pigment on canvas
79" 105" x 199 cm x 265 cm
1989
Insects, acrylic and pigment on canvas
79" 105" x 199 cm x 265 cm
P. G.; Milano
LARGE ORNAMENTAL FRIEZE
1989, Schokoladenfabrik, Heidelberg
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
36 panels, each 32.3" x 47.25", 82 x 120 cm
1989, Schokoladenfabrik, Heidelberg
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
36 panels, each 32.3" x 47.25", 82 x 120 cm
Total length of frieze: 1,728" (144 ft), 4,392 cm (44 m). This 36-panel work should ideally be hung in one long row, as is true of a frieze.
LARGE ORNAMENTAL FRIEZE (Detail)
1989
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
16 panels, each 32.3" x 47.25", 82 x 120 cm
1989
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
16 panels, each 32.3" x 47.25", 82 x 120 cm
16 panels out of the full 36 panels from "LARGE ORNAMENTAL FRIEZE."
LARGE ORNAMENTAL FRIEZE (detail)
1989
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
16 panels out of the full 36 panels, each 32.3" x 47.25", 82 x 120 cm
1989
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
16 panels out of the full 36 panels, each 32.3" x 47.25", 82 x 120 cm
See also MMMNC LOGO FRIEZE
GOLDEN ORNAMENT ON YVES KLEIN BLUE
1989
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
36" x 48", 92 x 122 cm
1989
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
36" x 48", 92 x 122 cm
HAPPY ORNAMENTS
1989
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
36" x 48", 92 x 122 cm
1989
Acrylic and pigment on canvas
36" x 48", 92 x 122 cm
P. G.; Milano
WORD SYMBOL ORNAMENT
1988
Acrylic on cardboard
Various sizes
1988
Acrylic on cardboard
Various sizes
Arrangement variable
COME
1988
Acrylic on wood
14.5" x 66", 37 x 166 cm
1988
Acrylic on wood
14.5" x 66", 37 x 166 cm
D. & M. R.; Heidelberg
