Splash 51, 2024

Mark Hellbusch  

"Splash 51" is an expressive circular painting with a diameter of 120 cm – a bold visual statement that celebrates the power of color and movement. The intense magenta hue of the canvas forms the emotional foundation for a tense, luminous composition of color pulses in white, black, blue, orange, red, green, and yellow. The work unfolds like a departure – a visual blossoming amidst a vibrant space.

The lines and splashes crisscross the surface in curved, almost dance-like paths. Some appear deliberate and delicately executed, others strike the canvas like lightning. The composition creates a rhythmic interplay of control and spontaneity, of density and emptiness. The vibrant colors contrast effectively with the rich background, making the painting almost pulsate.

For this work, I worked with acrylic and lacquer paints, applied using various experimental techniques such as throwing, pulling, and dripping. The circular canvas emphasizes the sense of circular movement—a centrifugal momentum that seemingly extends beyond the image's boundaries. The glossy layers of paint reflect the light differently, lending the work additional visual depth.

This painting is intended for spaces that want to radiate energy, openness, and creative courage. It is not decorative in the classic sense—it demands attention; it speaks with power. It is the colorful essence of a moment, captured in form and line—vivid, open, absolutely present.