Periodicity, the movement of celestial bodies, the circle as a perfect form (the mother of all geometrical forms according to euclidean geometry), a movement which begins at a point to which it returns, completion of a track. Movement as the completion of a sentence or the completion of a thought.
In many traditions like Zen Buddhism, there are many references to the perfect circle as an allegory to the world and to life itself. Circular motion as meditation, distilling the essence of life, appears in shamanic cultures and mystical traditions such as Kabbalah and the Sufi streams in Islam.
In my work I often refer to shape as a result of physical movement. I use the language of action painting along with live music which helps me to create and produce these specific drawings which are the result of the energy of the performance.
There are many examples of different methods that show the power of repetitiveness such as rituals, meditation, and all kind of skills that require training.
Men learnt about periodicity either by observing the world or the human nature.
In his book “The language of symmetry”, Mario Livio describes the sphere as the perfect shape and the only form known to us that maintain the multi-directional symmetry (Endless Directions), unlike any other form.
Although I am not a scientist, I do want to explore the implication of the meditative circular motion on my consciousness.
In my work I bring together the physical energy, the processes of my mind, and the subconscious.
The meeting between these elements drives me to dive, so I believe, into the layers of the mind and the human being.
I am dealing with ratios, attributes, and the amount of energy I have in a certain time and place.
How is the movement and physical energy, with its constant transformation, influence my perception.
When I am working in the studio all by myself, I am inspired by the energy and the time restriction of the performance which forces me to be more precise and condensed.
My work is influenced by many artists. Here I am going to name a few which are directly relevant to my performance work and that are associated with zen-painting and action-painting.
Jackson Pollock - A big influence for me, the way he dealt with form as a result of physical motion. The way he was searching for order and harmony out of raw energy.
Gutai Group - This group was formed in Japan as a reaction to the second world war in 1954 by several artists - Shozo Shimamoto, Jiro Yoshihara and Kazoo Shiraga.
This group was the antithesis to the traditional Japanese art, they used their bodies and the environment as the materials and components to their work and the raw and basic movement in space as a manifestation to their largely abstract language.
Ana Mendieta - A Cuban born painter, sculptor, performer and video artist. Her work focused on subjects like feminism, body art, violence and earth art. I am especially inspired by her work “Body Tracks” from 1974.
Herman Nitsch - Austrian born artist, known mostly for his action - painting works.
And many others.
The most important thing for me is the process I am going through during the performance,
While the end result of the painting is of meaning to me, I see it as a trace of the mental and physical activity.
My involvement with shamanic cultures and mystical traditions is only metaphoric and symbolic.
While I am using the images that are part of these traditions, I am not absorbed by them. For me my work is always in the context of artistic doing. I see myself as a part of the evolution of art.
My freedom as an artist is to be influenced by images that the world has to offer.
Alex Kremer