frank badur
born 1944, Oranienburg, Germany
Author at his studio in Finland
3. 3. 2022 - 15. 4. 2022
„What is art?
. . . . .Anything that awakens my visual sense with wonder…“
Frank Badur
It seems to be an extraordinary skill of Frank Badur, a German artist, painter, graphic and pedagogue, to gently awake senses, influence and harmonize individual perceptions and transform them into deeper experiences in the subconscious of the viewers.
Frank Badur brings these inner and unpretentious processes in the perception of each single work through two instruments, Badur´s fundamental bases, which are the primary essence of his work. These are the colour with its impact and adherence to an abstract and simple form.
Canvas surface is formally divided into vertical or horizontal stripes, evoking geometric nomenclature. This division is intentional, but not based on calculated and detailed system, so typical for the work of constructivists. To work in this scheme allows a close connection of two different colours, which can react and interact together and thus may affect the overall impression and perception of the viewer.
The entire painting is rhytmized into regular or variable intervals with the use of coloured fields. In between them exist thinner narrow lines, strong elements to bring new impulses into the painting, although they appear subtle and fragile, surrounded by the massive colour fields.
Frank Badur’s colour spectrum is not conditioned by a strict system. As well as the the other reductive artists working with monochromes, also Frank Badur found his delight in white, gray or black scales. However, preference of these colours is not limiting him, he also uses ochre, red and brown shades without inhibitions but in the presence of his rigorous author´s correction.
The choice of colour tones is intuitive, often experimental, based on the author’s sensory experience and expectations. The drawings and paintings are created in serial ranges, so they usually form numerous cycles.
When observing the works of Frank Badur, it is not possible to unsee parallels with the American wave of colorists /1940-1970/ and the authors belonging to the so-called Fundamental painting. In this comparison it is necessary to mention at least Brice Marden, Barnett Newman, Robert Ryman, Robert Mangold, Frank Stella…
However, Badur’s conception is not intended to be a deep penetration into the base of painting and justification of its true essence, neither does it seem to even refer to the historically given evollution of art through the ages. His realizations show a high degree of sensitivity, intuitiveness, experiment and thus permit the transformation of the visual perception into the spiritual experience of the viewer. These works are delicate, sensory, minimalist, in some moments they can lead to almost contemplative positions…
Perhaps the art of Frank Badur could be compared to the art of meditation or to the ritual of a tea ceremony, where the whole process is based on the exact and consistent procedure, but at the same time brings an unique spiritual experience.
The curator of the exhibition at the Závodný Gallery in Mikulov, Mr. Hans-Peter Riese, is a German journalist, publicist, curator and art expert is a long time friend of Frank Badur, author of many texts about him and an observer of the genesis of Badur´s work. Závodný Gallery is very pleased to have the opportunity to meet both professionals in the exhibition space.
