Black and White III, Expanded Metal Painting, 2017

Clemens Wolf  

Black and White III, Expanded Metal Painting, 2017 by Clemens Wolf 

From the series Expanded Metal Paintings. Oil on canvas. Size: 150 H x 120 W CM 

Hand-signed back by the artist  Mounted on a stretcher  Unique 

The panel paintings "Expanded Metal Paintings" are the closest to the classic art of painting. Firstly paint is applied by a brush on a primed canvas. Then wire mesh is dunked into black and white paint and is used to create abstract patterns on top of the red and light grey areas. Similar to traditional blueprints with textiles, the wire mesh is moved across the canvas like a mold. Fingerprints remain as well as the redundant paint. The finished work bears a haptic sensation, the form resembles calligraphy: the surface's sensuality takes center stage.

This artwork presents a striking display of textured intricacy, characterized by an audacious monochrome palette. Tiny, repetitive patterns create a sense of movement and depth, invoking a dynamic visual experience despite its black-and-white simplicity. The surface is meticulously crafted with what appear to be minute, raised brushstrokes or imprinted forms, offering a tactile quality that challenges the flatness of traditional canvas. These undulating patterns produce a compelling rhythm that draws the viewer's attention across the entire piece. White flecks sporadically punctuate the grid-like arrangement, adding sporadic highlights that enhance the overall complexity. The composition elicits a sense of infinity, as if capturing an ephemeral moment of motion stilled in an abstract landscape. Its unique ability to merge texture with visual fluidity makes this artwork a standout exploration of monochromatic expression and pattern repetition.