‚HERBARIUM OF NEOPHYTES‘

In the studio, new plant objects made from various organic materials are created on a lighttable for a short period of time. Inspired by the aesthetics of Leonhart Fuchs or Maria Sibylla Merian, the manifold details, structures, and surfaces are presented in an almost hyperreal form. However, upon closer inspection, fractures and impossibilities in the statics, form, and color become apparent.

With AI, the next great leap in design, interaction, and consumption seems to be just around the corner. It feels only logical, then, to approach this phenomenon in the simplest way possible within my artistic practice, using collected, analog materials. At a table, I dry, preserve, and arrange the individual plant parts by hand. I gather these fragments from various places – biodegradable waste from cemeteries, trimmings from green bins, or even surplus flowers discarded by the florist around the corner. In a world where everything seems possible and digital makes everything possible, the boundaries between reality and fiction begin to blur. Since many have already lost access to and experiences with humans, nature, plants, and animals, these things appear to us as moldable consumer goods. We design and create at our discretion. Form no longer follows function, but rather maximum impact. Supply creates demand, and everything is offered in an endless cycle of ever-changing new combinations and fragments.

I am drawn to the fractures and inconsistencies that only become visible on a second or third look. Losing myself in the details, and discovering them all over again, is what fascinates me. In a world that is evolving at a rapid pace and unfolding in an endless chain of events – where every everyday occurrence seems to compete with historic turning points for attention – I feel like a neophyte all over again, every single day.

 fineart print on Hahnemühle Hemp (42 x 59,4 cm)

The images shown are just a small selection of the entire series. All works are copyright protected, and any reproduction without the artist’s permission is strictly prohibited.

 You can find now all available prints on artmajeur.