“Is it the right time to say that the work is finished?” – This is a question that the two artists Tom Kristen and Bernhard Paul often ask themselves when creating their works. The working rhythm of the two artists is similar. The work often lies untouched in the studio for days, weeks or months until the artist continues working on it.
Despite the similar approach, the artists’ themes differ.
Tom Kristen’sworks are characterized by their imaginative composition. Figures, monsters and various objects cavort in his prints and paintings and create a new world of their own. The recurring silhouettes often make it seem as if the artist unconsciously wants to tell a story with his works. However, each viewer must discover these stories for themselves.
The inspiration for Bernhard Paul’spaintings comes from music. The rhythm of the brushstrokes and the colors indirectly reflect the influence of music on the artist. Composers and musicians such as Frank Zappa, John Cage and Georg Friedrich Haas were “godfathers” for his works. However, the focus of his painting is not on the recognition of music, but on the creation of a new flatness and depth.