Gerd Kanz's work is on the border between painting and sculpture,specifically relief sculpture. Applying color to sculpture is a tricky business. It often looks more like an after thought than an indispensable part of the work. Color, especially strong saturated color, tends to optically flatten out three dimensional form.In Kanz's work, particularly in his intense blue pieces, the color strives to flatten out the form, the form struggles to assert itself, and, in the end, and equilibrium is reached.
Kanz
is something of a magician in his ability to make his materials, a concoction
of resins, papier mache, pigments, and other ingredients, look like stone,
earth, porcelain or anything else he wants. In other ways, illusions are used.
The works appear to be fragile , as though the pitted and scored surfaces are
in danger of falling apart at any moment, whereas, in fact, the works are
strong and well crafted.
Kanz's art is undemonstrative, but very seductive, and requires contemplation
to savor its subtleties and refinements.
"Unititled"
mixed media
55" x 55"
(139.7 x 139.7 cm)
"Unititled"
mixed media
41" x 41"
(104 x 104 cm)
"Unititled"
mixed media
55" x 55"
(139.7 x 139.7 cm)
"Unititled"
mixed media
20" x 20" x 4"
(101.6 x 101.6 x 10.2 cm)
"Unititled"
mixed media
24" x 29 1/2"
(61 x 74.9 cm)
"Unititled"
mixed media
15 1/4" x 15 1/4"
(38.7 x 38.7 cm)
"Unititled"
mixed media
15" x 15" x 2 1/2
(38.1 x 38.1 x 6.4 cm)
