KASPER HERMANN > a point... not so blank |
Kasper Hermann Interview with DiFranco about his Art practice at Catapult - The Munchies Art Club
Artist Feature and Interview about Kasper Hermann by DiFranco
Kasper Hermann is a contemporary Danish artist known for his minimalist paintings.
One of his works, “Untitled, 2023,” is an acrylic on board measuring 30 cm in diameter.
This piece was featured in the “Børns Vilkår X Curated by Jens-Peter Brask X Bruun Rasmussen” auction at Bruun Rasmussen on April 30, 2024.
Another work by Hermann, also titled “Untitled” (2024), is a mixed media piece on canvas with epoxy resin, measuring 40 x 50 cm.
A Interview with the Artist Kasper Hermann by DiFranco:
1. What are the main themes present in your minimalist paintings?
My work is mainly surrounded around present/past/future memories/thoughts/fears.
Im a very nostalgic person by heart, and I often place my core memories around simple colors, im sure it’s a method my brain have always used so I don’t forget things that are important to me.
Kasper Hermann: (left) Installation View | Image Courtesy by the Artist or Jacob Björn Gallery | (right): Kasper Hermann : ‘Surface tension’ in collaboration with @jens.frederik.hansen | Image Courtesy of the artist Image Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery
Sometimes it brings out color combinations I use in my practice.
When im not in a nostalgic mode I often use colors that describe my present state of mind.
2. How do you incorporate texture and materials, such as epoxy resin, into your work?
The past 18 months ive used Resin in all my works. I started to get the interest for resin because Its such a weird material.
If airtight it can be used as a translucent tomb for any living material you want to immortalize in some way for all eternity as it’s a non-degradable material.
Kasper Hermann: Installments private collection | Image Courtesy of the Artist
Another reason why I love resin, is because of the reflection after its fully cured.
When looking a my works of art you will always see a reflection of yourself surrounded by the chosen colors. In some way I force the vieweer to connect with the given color.
3. What role do colors play in your compositions? Do you follow a specific palette?
As mentioned earlier most of my color combinations comes from core memories of my life. Every single color is chosen for a reason, and its clues is often given in its title.
4. How does your work compare to traditional minimalist painters like Donald Judd or Agnes Martin?
I think im minimalism is quite far from those two pioneers of minimalism. They are masters of perfection to a point where the works are almost hypnotizing.
My works appear perfect from the distance, but when you get closer to them you see all the mistakes, no circle is the same size, they are never perfectly round, the paint is not always covering the canvas and the resin droplets in the bottom of the canvas is not polished or removed.
5+6 What artistic or conceptual influences have shaped your approach to minimalism? & Does your art contain any hidden symbolism, or is it purely abstract?
The past year I’ve mostly done spots.
To me a spot is a HUGE part of art history as so many artists before me did it, and many still does.
Spots can be done in so many ways. Its provocative and boring but yet satisfying.
To me a circle describes life in all forms – any living organism is a part of a circular cycle.
I guess the answer to the question is science plus of cause the other thousands of artists, past and present, doing the same.
7. How does your creative process develop, from conception to the finalization of a piece?
The process is very fluently, I never sit down to draw or sketch works before I bring them to life, It can sometime create rather drab and not very fashionable/popular works regarding to color combinations, but it does also give me some sort of freedom in my practice, and that freedom is an absolute must for me.
Kasper Hermann : 1. Art Fair with @albert_contemporary at @art_herning t2. Red Porthole, 2024 - 70 x 40cm 3. 'Prometheus' - 2024 80 x 60 x 4cm. Canvas, acrylics, resin. 4. from the Group Show: "Lunar Muse" at @jacobbjorngallery | Image and Permission of the artist and Galleries
8. What do you hope the audience feels or perceives when looking at your paintings?
Hopefully they will look at the pieces, see the reflection of their bodies engulfed in the colors and experience old memories, present thoughts or future fears all connected to the presented color/s.
9. How does the Danish environment influence your minimalist aesthetic?
I think its such a big part of our national design heritage that we don’t even think about it anymore, we just live it and do it – especially if living in Copenhagen.
10. What are the challenges and advantages of working within a minimalist aesthetic in contemporary art?
I think some artists are scared of diving into minimalism. It can seem taunting and daring to most because they are afraid of repeating themselves, or afraid to get stuck doing the same and not evolving.
But to me evolving comes very natural, I always come to a point where my body just can’t proceed anymore, and that’s where the new ideas just suddenly blossom without me forcing it. – I guess im just lucky in that sense, I’ve never suffered from a “writers/painters block”.
Follow Kasper Hermann on Instagram
Interview by DiFranco – Munchies Art Club says thanks to the Artist and the Writer!
Spoiler: Upcoming Solo Show: ‘Surface Tension’ opening 4th of april 2025
Comments ()