Horst Schaefer

Statement

I am trying to apply formal concepts from mathematics, logic or science in my work. I also try to reach a balance between the formal aspects, artistic freedom and the resulting aesthetic value. For me it is essential, that the viewer can be aware of these aspects. As a consequence I am exploring how formal concepts generate a visual form. The name ‘Rule and Form’ of my first cycle describes this relationship. The works show here are realized with classical copperplate printing technique. I used a unique set of 7 copper plates which were cut from one square plate of copper. Then a technique called aquatint was used to create the surface structure necessary for copperplate printing. In the original printings one can see the imprints of the plates on the paper. At the end of 2010 I had realized 58 works in this way.

Artworks

The work is part of Series II. This series relates geometrical properties like corners, angles and sides of the 7 tangram figures to each other. In case of Rule 20 each figure is touching another figure at its corner. Starting with the square, the large triangle and the small triangle are opposing each other. Then, the lower mid-sized triangle and the parallelogram above are not symmetric. The outside side of opposing figures have equal length. All of this results in a somehow symmetric overall impression.

The work is part of Series II. This series relates geometrical properties like corners, angles and sides of the 7 tangram figures to each other. In case of Rule 12 each figure is touching another figure at its corner. The rule specifies, that one right angle is formed. ‘Chain’ means, that one figure touches at least one other figure and at most two other figures.

The work presented is part of the cycle ‘Rule and Form - Tangram’. The cycle deals with the composition of the 7 tangram figures (two large triangles, one mid-size triangle, two small triangles, a square, a parallelogram). In case of Rule 06, the 7 figures are composed in such a way that they surround three equilateral triangles of white space.