Carsten Beck
Carsten Beck, born in 1986 in Arden, Denmark, lives and works in Aalborg. For more information, visit the artist's website.
__________
In one sentence: What is Concrete Art for me?
Concrete Art is a constructivist composition of lines and colors, united by an independent aesthetic within its formal language.
Do I see myself as a representative of Concrete Art?
I am greatly inspired by the constructive arrangement of lines that establish a dialogue between form and function. I love working with various materials and combining them into a timeless visual language, which I believe Concrete Art represents.
Who is my favourite artist in the field of Concrete Art?
Some of my favorite artists whom I am deeply fascinated by are: Ellsworth Kelly, Ib Geertsen and Victor Vasarely.
Which position in Concrete Art was particularly formative or impressive for me?
Overall it’s challenging to pinpoint a single impact because of the many artists and thinkers. The movement’s legacy lies in its exploration of form, color and composition which inspire me and the viewers to engage with art on a visual and aesthetic level.
Which pioneers of Concrete Art do I see as role models?
Ellsworth Kelly: She has a unique understanding of the utterly simple combined with color. Creating art that is simplistic in its form is not easy. In fact its quite challenging, as its often the form and colors that shape an object.
Max Bill: His geometric abstractions and exploration of mathematical principles in art have left a lasting mark on the movement. His commitment to the integration of art, design and architecture further emphasized the holistic nature of Concrete Art.
What was my first contact with Concrete Art?
Back in 2020, I began combining colors on paper, constructing patterns from a mathematical perspective. I explored what constituted a line and how lines could be orchestrated to form an object. I’ve always been captivated by measurements or photographs of buildings. It might be a corner of a building that had the perfect composition, or the interplay of light and shadow capturing a fleeting composition, one that could change over time depending on where the light struck.
Have the early days of Concrete Art had a direct influence on my own work as an artist?
The mathematical aspect of construction in Concrete Art is something I love working from. The mathematics that establish a connection between lines, which then evolve into a shape, is a highly captivating construction from the beginning to the end. Very fascinating process.
Which principles of Concrete Art have shaped my artistic approach most?
I work extensively with elements / forms. In that sense, it’s fair to say that I operate based on the fundamental principles of Concrete Art. The process involves building a visual composition from light and shadows, where the composition is constructed from a photograph and then translated mathematically onto a canvas or a form (sculpture).
Color, form, or line? Which fundamental form of artistic expression from Concrete Art is most important to me?
The form within the object is what transforms its expression, rendering it timeless.
When you contemplate a work outside of Concrete Art, it’s often the form that captivates us. We can feel its impact on us and sense the artist’s thoughts. A form stripped down to its fundamental element cultivates tranquility and contemplation within us, as we embark on a quest for understanding.
The manifestos of the pioneers of Concrete Art are for me
- Long-since outdated
- As valid as ever today X
- Much too dogmatic
- Of no relevance at all
- Pioneering for their time X
- Still a source of inspiration X
- Not radical enough
- Other assessments:
On the hundredth anniversary: Where do I see Concrete Art in another hundred years?
- The movement within fine art that sets the tone X
- No longer recognizable as a clearly distinguishable art movement of ist own
- Still of great importance X
- In forms and mediat hat cannot be predicted yet
- Other assessments:
And? Is the term Concrete Art still necessary (at all)?
No answer.