Marco Stanke
Marco Stanke, born in 1987 in Bad Aibling, lives and works in Munich. For more information, visit the artist's website.
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In one sentence: What is Concrete Art for me?
In one word: play.
Do I see myself as a representative of Concrete Art?
I see some aspects of Concrete Art in my works, but not myself as its representative (“relative“ would probably be more accurate). Concrete Art and I have an ambivalent relationship. I do draw on the repertoire of a “typically concrete“ visual / object language – yet, many of my works celebrate the “flawed“ and “imperfect“.
Who is my favorite artist in the field of Concrete Art? Which position in Concrete Art was particularly formative or impressive for me? Which pioneers of Concrete Art do I see as role models?
I remember my first real encounter with Blinky Palermo's works many years ago and how they captivated me; I dare say he is a role model (at least on an artistic level).
What was my first contact with Concrete Art?
Building blocks (I always built in monochrome).
Have the early days of Concrete Art had a direct influence on my own work as an artist?
A retrospective look is always worthwhile to assess one's own inventory.
Which principles of Concrete Art have shaped my artistic approach most?
Ironically, precision: Sometimes, I am myself puzzled that I need to work extremely precisely to make some works appear crooked and skewed through a few small interventions.
Color, form, or line? Which fundamental form of artistic expression from Concrete Art is most important to me?
The covering of at times improbable wooden constructions with textile painting grounds often forms the starting point for my works, while the act of painting serves to comment on and / or counteract their form. Strictly speaking, my answer should be: Form. Nevertheless, I see no clear hierarchy, as the aforementioned means of expression are interrelated where they occur together.
The manifestos of the pioneers of Concrete Art are for me
- Long-since outdated
- As valid as ever today
- Much too dogmatic
- Of no relevance at all
- Pioneering for their time
- Still a source of inspiration
- Not radical enough
- Other assessments: x
50% a, 50% b
On the hundredth anniversary: Where do I see Concrete Art in another hundred years?
- The movement within fine art that sets the tone
- No longer recognizable as a clearly distinguishable art movement of its own
- Still of great importance
- In forms and media that cannot be predicted yet
- Other assessments: x
Concrete Art is the figuration of tomorrow, the abstraction of the day after tomorrow, and the Concrete Art of the day after that.
And? Is the term Concrete Art still necessary (at all)?
At least until its 200th birthday.
Translated from German.