HEIKO BLANKENSTEIN

Heiko Blankenstein OPENING 10.12. 2004, 6pm 11.12.2004 - 29.01.2005    For his first solo exhibit in Berlin, Heiko Blankenstein shows handcrafted lightboxes that loosely depict landscapes which either resemble singular tree shapes, or become neatly tied together structures of expansive natural scenarios. In connection with alchemist references, Blankenstein creates an extension of the visible sphere and, outside of modern rationalism, guides the viewer back to the cognitive principles of humanist metaphysics. Appropriating the aesthetics of medieval printmaking, sometimes combined with far-eastern use of perspective, he also makes use of modern minimalistically executed architectural elements. The contrast between nature and architecture, old and new, light and dark does not signify a dichotomy, but rather an intertwined timelessness of things thereby creating considerable tension. With an etching needle he scratches the drawing into previously painted sheets of acrylic or renders them on translucent plastic. Simultaneously, he works with photographic landscape imagery which refers to certain places , but nevertheless does not mean to be a representation of natural environments. Lit from the back, the pieces achieve strong visual depth, further amplified by the layering of translucent drawing (and photographic) plains. The mostly figureless, but somewhat surreal landscapes become their own worlds, detached from the laws of physics and scientific rules. Natural environments are not depicted as such, but are highly stylized and purposefully contain a strong artificiallity.