FRANK WIEBE - OUTPOST MAPPINGS

E S K To conclude, I have a question regarding the aesthetic of your works. Let’s talk briefly about how you construct your works in terms of composition. Fractured color fields confront or com- plement each other, evoking the appearance of ‚distant worlds’. In addition, there are weaves of lines that are suggestive of planetary orbits. Can you tell us about the process involved in creating your works? F W Looking at my work in general, on the one hand, there are very compact structures and, on the other, structures that drift apart in a comparatively ex- plosive manner. These are different states, although the origin is the same. For an artist, the choice of aesthetic means is defined by him- or herself. An expansion of possibilities then ensues from the cre- ative process and from the interplay between thematic consider- ations and their technical realization. E S K Do you see a connection between your ideas and those of the philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)? In his late work, “Pensées,” Pascal places man in a state of suspension fluctuating between the void and the universe. Compared with reality, our ideas and thoughts are merely miniscule details. In this universe, the indi- vidual human being must learn to assess him- or herself according to his or her true potential, posing the question: “What am I, in the face of infinity?” And what can I achieve? F W Instead of commenting directly, I would like to answer as follows: ultimately, painting is a mental process and thus deter- mines the formal action and development of an artist. Each person contributes to our reality in his or her own way. [This conversation took place in the winter of 2019/2020 in Zurich.] 38