Fabian Gatermann (1984) lives and works in Munich. He studied art, communications history, design and engineering in Vienna, Koln and Brazil. As a part of exhibition “Light as a phenomenon” the artist explores interplay of light, color, surface and form. In his search Gatermann looks into light using various approaches, works with material and non-material properties to make it visible for the viewers.
In many works, such as LightEdge, MoodPoem or Lens Flare, the movement of light is in the center of his art. In these works artist shows his interest in reflection of light and its role in altering the space.
LightEdge
MoodPoem
Lense Flare
In the series of works Luxlumina the artist used nonsilver photographic process, that during photo printing results in images of bluish hue (cyanotype). These works have connection between light as information material, displayed on the paintings and light as a basis of the process. Shown data provided by the University of Lausanne depict dual nature of light as a wave and as a particle.
Luxlumina
Light sculptures and works made with the help of chemical processes stand in contrast with works that Gatermann created using organic materials. His wooden intarsia and paper relief are different in style and execution from his other works.
According to Gatermann, the relation between the wood and paper are very similar to connection between a parent and a child. Wood and paper is the same material but in different forms. Relief reproduces the same structure but differently from print only that part that the artist is transferring through embossing on paper. Paper relief drawings are made on white paper. In the center of these works is a thin wooden structure, that becomes visible only because of light and shadow play. According to the artist, wood is the source material that shows us – we always have to strive for light.
His intarsia are very different from white monochromatic reliefs. Warm structure of wood shows geometric organic forms on the contrasting background. In this case artist chose the analogy with wood as a metaphor to build a bridge to a human.
Gatermann’s works can be seen not only in exhibition halls but also in public spaces. During Luminale 2018 he turned one of the metro stations in Frankfurt into a light installation – CityLightCharts. Base data for the series of works was, for example, the stock market prices, such as car industry, Dow Jones index, as well as wealth distribution among population (Poor vs. Rich). Fabian Gatermann creates these light sculptures, using algorithms and computer sequences of separate courses and of abstract numbers. To understand the emotional influence of prices on stocks, he invested at different stock markets. Interaction of mostly inert data with artistic interpretation creates complicated, looking like a network living sculptures, that artist has filled with light.
City Light Charts: Dow Jones, Poor vs. Rich, Car Industry
To visit the exhibition “Light as a phenomenon” you can until the May 5, every Sunday from 11.00 to 13.30.
Foundation for Concrete Art Roland Phleps:
www.stiftung-konkrete-kunst.de
Fabian Gatermann website:
http://www.fabiangatermann.com/