Jonas Etter, Sepia (II.2, III, IV, V, IX), 2015. Inkjet prints
Sepia (II.2, III, IV, V, IX)
2015. Inkjet prints
The work series Sepia (2015) are based on the rather idiosyncratic reactions of the material they are made of. At the same time the large-sized prints confront their viewers with an actual enigma. The black and white shapes seem to be almost organic at first glance. Is it an abstract photograph which a little computer probe sent from within the human body? Or are we looking at satellite images of alienated landscapes from the end of the world? The mysterious images are the result of a trial arrangement which leaves room not only to experiment, to loss of control and the unforeseeable, but also to the peculiarities of the artistic materials used. Therefore Jonas Etter pours black indian ink mixed with methylated spirit onto tinfoil and sets it on fire. The flaring flame crinkles up the tinfoil, which then affects the ink`s direction of flow. In places the paint burns, In others little black pools are formed. As soon as the ink has dried, the resulting image is photographed, digitally edited and finally plotted using the inkjet process.
Jonas Etter, Untitled, 2019. Installation view
Untitled
2019. Installation
Bio
Jonas Etter was born 1981 in Bern, Switzerland, and currently lives and works in Zurich and Berlin.
He studied at the University of the Arts Luzern and the University of the Arts Zurich. Atelieraufenthalte 2013 (Kunming, China: Stadt Zürich) und 2014 (Berlin, Deutschland, Kanton Zürich). Seine Arbeiten werden international gezeigt. HäuslerContemporary, Zürich 2015, Dienstgebäude, Zürich 2015, Kunstv. Wagenhallen, Stuttgart 2015, Under Deconstruction, München 2014, CENTQUATRE, Paris, 2012, New Gallery, London 2009.
Jonas Etter setzt sich mit spezifischen Materialien und deren Eigenschaften auseinander. Das Ausloten von Möglichkeiten bis zur Entfremdung und Vergänglichkeit sind wiederkehrende Themen. Der Transformationsprozess von Idee zu Physis, von Information zu Materials die Gegenüberstellung von Künstler und Werk ist Gegenstand seiner künstlerischen Untersuchungen.
Seine Arbeit wurde 2014 mit dem Aeschlimann-Corti Stipendium ausgezeichnet.