Shanghai Up, 2014

Jens-Christian Wittig  

The works of JCW at the onset and in print are photographic techniques. However, at their conclusion, they are no longer photographs, but rather transformed compositions. Brushwork and sophisticated graphic elements can be seen throughout the images. The resulting complexity, depth, brilliance and range of color of his images would be difficult if not impossible to produce through painting or graphic techniques in the classical sense. His unique and elaborate works are created through complicated and often lengthy digital processing -primarily through the use of a computer.
JCW de-composes the initial material, adds new, complex elements and re-composes – using lacquer painting techniques – to create these expressions in image form.
The images themselves are not important to JCW.  For him, the true image is seen only by the viewer. Their imagination and fantasy, their personal interaction with the images and finally, the formation of opinion – positive or negative – this is the “real picture". That is why the artist offers no explanations or descriptions of his motifs.
Some viewers have been so caught up in the intensity of the images, that they have heard music - an unconscious emotional reaction of the senses underlying the visual…