TSUKI

About

In the branching structure of painting expression -the imitation of the reality or the visualization of the spiritual realm-, Plogsties and Swars analyze the form of composition used for a painting, its visual image existing as a concept itself, and its appearance; not merely copying the originals but by using reproductions as their image source, such as printed catalogs of old masterpieces.
The imitation of the reality, imparting the figuration: colorful topological lines with continuous pentagons that show way for the artist where to place the figures on the canvas, or the division points and grids that lead to the golden ratio arise independently on the canvas. 
Intersections of geometric lines that form the principal view of composition overlaps with the figures placed, visualizing the area in which the artist's preconception is avoided.

Jochen Plogsties bases his paintings on reproductions of well-known art works, from Leonard da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” to Picasso’s “The Seated Harlequin”, the iconic Beatles photograph at Abby Road, to Cindy Sherman’s photographs. Instead of the original work, he uses reproductions of those he find on postcards, books, and on the internet.
He studied at the Academy of Visual Arts Leipzig, was a masters student of Neo Rauch. In 2011, Jochen Plogsties was awarded the Kunstpreis der Leipzig Volkszeitung. Prior winners include Neo Rauch, Matthias Weischer. 
His works has been shown in group exhibition “New Acquisitions” (Hildebrand Collection, Leipzig) in 2017, solo exhibition “Shanzhai” (ASPN Gallery, Leipzig) in 2016, solo exhibition at Kestner-Gesellschaft, Hannover in 2014, at Museum der bildenden Kuenste Leipzig in 2011, and numerous other exhibitions. His works are included in major collections such as Museum der bildenden Kuenste Leipzig, Kunstfonds of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Zabludowicz Collection in London, SØR Rusche Collection in Berlin, Leipziger Volkszeitung Collection, and Sparkasse Collection.

Erik Swars studied under Jochen Plogsties in Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle and graduated in 2016. He also studied from O JUN in Tokyo National University of the Arts from 2013 to 2014. He first worked with geometric landscapes with full of vivid colors filling the screen, reminiscent of surrealism and metaphysical paintings, such as the New Leipzig School or Giorgio de Chirico. Under the continuous process of work with his master Jochen Plogsties, his recent pieces have become minimalistic, and also alike the Suiboku-ga style. His work could be described as a “Painting capturing the moment”: the multiple-layered surface made with gesso and opaque watercolor gouache supports the various expressions struck with dark blue oil, while he does not to dare to paint to his satisfaction to leave the instinctual strokes of the brush unchanged, the strength sharpen and soften under the dryness of the brush. Swars uses image sources that he finds on catalogs of old master paintings, or images on the Internet. He avoids the distinct frontal nature, but instead draws out a spread image that leads the viewpoint in various directions.
His works has been exhibited in a group show at Galerie Kleindienst Leipzig in 2017, a solo show at Spinnerei Archiv massiv Leipzig in 2016, and at JIKKA Gallery in 2013. KEN NAKAHASHI exhibited Swars works in a one-man show format at Art Fair Tokyo 2017, and held three solo exhibitions during 2014-2017.