© Albert Janzen.
© Albert Janzen.
I know there will be at least one person who sees these, and thinks to themselves, “oh c’mon, anyone could do that!” The truth is not anyone can do that, and while it might look simple and easy to do, it isn’t. Go ahead, get some paper, grab a ballpoint pen or marker, and go for it.
I love all these pieces, and yes, I have tried this sort of thing before, I don’t have the knack. My attempts are a mess.
After studying Philosophy and Mathematics in Berlin, London and Amsterdam, he decided to follow his artistic path while he discovered his love for the line. In 2015 Albert won the Luxembourg Art Prize 2015 whilst finishing his Masters in Logic at the University of Amsterdam. Inspired by the autonomous work of Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter and Zao Wou-Ki, Janzen’s line drawings represent themselves as an independent entity. The lines are very simple and basic, so various patterns can be constructed. The ultimate simplicity of the line manifests its independent aesthetics. Albert draws lines not to make simple drawings, but to draw lines that create art by themselves. The shapes and patterns occurring in Janzen’s drawings have no other purpose than to reveal the movements of lines.
You can see more of Albert Janzen’s work at iGNANT, or his website.
Before reading the text in your post, I looked at the photos and thought it was going to be about using his own hair for art or something similar. Especially the second looks like a bundle of hair twisted together. Line drawings, though, make it way more difficult and interesting. Lots of compelling drawings at the links provided.
Very nice. I have done a lot of pen and ink work in the past… this is nice work indeed. He has interesting ideas and is very skillful in his application.
johnson catman @ 1:
I thought the same thing when I first saw the photos.
One more bit in my education in the variety of artistic expression. Thanks Caine.
Ditto on the hair.
These are beautiful and hypnotic. What I like best is that he doesn’t use a ruler -- I mean, I’ve drawn similar drawings, more geometrically, using the ruler, and they never look quite this magical! None of them are still, they’re just lines but there’s a lot of movement and depth in the patterns and shapes he creates. Very organic, lots of growing and breathing.
Actually most of them make me think of sound. And sounds.
rq, a lot of them translate to sound for me, too. And several make me think and feel sanctuary. There’s a secretiveness to them I like.
I like the ones that make me feel like I’m down in the grass. Or hiding out somewhere else quite and still (but alive and moving… if that makes sense). It’s very peaceful after the week I’ve had so far (just too much brain-effort, nothing too terrible).
Yeah, I get that. There’s a similar quiet going on here. Contemplating horses and listening to Árstíðir. Makes me want to go lay in tall grass.
Aside from mastering drawing technique one has to know, after having drawn a line, how should the next one go and there is an infinite number of choices.
There is both warmth and music in these (and a lot of leeway for the imagination).
Paper choice is important here, too. A toothy paper will result in your pen going places you didn’t anticipate.