CREATING DEPICTION
Foreground
& background
With his brushstroke, Claus Bertermann disturbs the viewer’s eyes. They struggle to distinguish the foreground
from the background. A brushstroke seemingly shifts
from the foreground to the background of the painted
scene, thus creating a depiction of an impossible reality
The illusion of
a third dimension
Claus Bertermann masters the secret of corners and luminous turns. With the precision of his brushstroke, he generates an exceptional three-dimensional impression.
This illusion of a third dimension imbues the painting with
a depth that invites the viewer to dive into the work and
perceive elements both in the foreground and background.
BRUSHSTROKES
Scratching
the paint
Additionally, Bertermann disrupts the organic and tranquil brushstrokes by abruptly and vigorously scratching
the paint, creating stark contrasts with the surrounding
tranquil brushstrokes. His paint-scratching technique produces unique, gritty structures, occasionally revealing
the white canvas or remnants of thick paint. These rough
structures alternate with visible traces – like memories –
of the underlying layers.
The superposition
of multiple layers
The scratched areas blend with the foreground and background of the brushstrokes. This culminates in a complex
superposition of multiple layers and textures, making the
final composition elusive and almost incomprehensible.
