John Franzen
John Franzen (born 1981) is an artist working with various disciplines and materials. He expresses his minimalistic approach through archetypes, reducing the diversity of the world to the primary elements and at the same time avoids excessive artistic strategies. He often compares himself to a scientist, a shaman and a priest, considering it his responsibility to explore the governing principles of the Universe and holistically interpret the mechanisms of the universe. In this process, he first of all draws attention to the nature of darkness, destruction, nothingness and creation.
Franzen was born in Germany and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Maastricht (2002-2007). The famous gallery owner Charles Saatchi introduced him to the world and cemented his career. Nowadays, his works are exhibited in Paris, London, Hong Kong, Dubai and Amsterdam.
John found one of his favourite styles in meditative and virtuoso graphics. Endlessly repeating and angle changing pencil lines form bewitching images. The titles of his works — "Each line is one breath", "Darkness", "Virgin purity" — give the creative process a spiritual and mystical interpretation.
“My collection of freehand drawings mostly focuses on the artistic and graphical interpretation of evolution, expresses with simple drawn lines. The basic premise of any drawing — the line — coincides with the basic, transcendent state of life and the idea of breath. I start with a straight line, and then draw each subsequent one, copying the character of the previous one — and concentrating on breathing,” — explains Franzen.
Each Line One Breath series is expanded in aluminum: the artwork resembles a pattern of wave motion that transmits energy through every element, space and time — just like in the field of electromagnetic waves.
Another iconic theme for the artist is the study of the narcissistic mirror in the "Creation is Destruction" series. The reflection of an observer standing in front of a shiny surface changes the look of the piece itself — but then the eyes of the viewer begin to reflect the art. Franzen thus shows us that the entire universe is a mirror, and the destruction of the reflection is a symbolic ritual act, a necessity to break through perception of our narcissistic reality.
In the "Darkness" series, consisting of monochromatic dark canvases, the artist raises the theme of the purification ritual: in his opinion, it is time to get rid of ideas about modern existence, unnecessary and unnatural constructions, and even our past.
