Mysterious Ghosts

Fabian Eichstaedt's informal paintings are rich in contrast, vibrant and expressive, buzzing and full of energy. They seem highly dynamic and very authoritative. The compositions are not planned in advance, but emerge spontaneously, developing as they arise, and yet chance plays only a minor role. Rather, the picture is formed in a series of small steps. The painting surface - a multiplex or MDF board - lies flat on the floor, while Eichstaedt applies wall paint, boat varnish and latex, not only using a whole range of different techniques, but also alternately from different sides. In the process, the picture is turned over and over again, and this method of working is certainly one of the reasons why the finished work can sometimes be seen in different orientations.

None of Eichstaedt's works are figurative, not even abstract representations of a real or ideal model, not based on a central theme or motif, and yet they invite the viewer to engage in interpretation and analysis. With titles such as zero signal, The Kempinski Inn or The Great Confusion, the artist himself makes initial suggestions that can be taken up, rejected or developed further. The space for associations is wide open, also thanks to the coherence that each of the compositions contains, which irresistibly suggests a hidden logic, a secret, an essence. Sometimes everything seems to be streaming outwards, fleeing from a centre, as if after a big bang; in the next picture a thousand small elements are in dynamic motion, like a buzzing swarm of insects. Other works are reminiscent of landscapes, rooms or cathedrals; they shine through, push forward and then disappear again, revealing themselves and yet remaining intangible, ephemeral interpretations like mysterious ghosts.

More about the artist: Fabian Eichstaedt's artist page