Jana Dettmer this year in Saint-Tropez.
Jana Dettmer at the Lavoir Vasserot, Saint Tropez. The German painter and installation artist is supported by Artforum Culture Foundation in cooperation with Winter Foundation Hamburg, in her quest to explore new pathway
Jana Dettmer continually experiments with techniques, breaking her own rules while maintaining her dynamic and intuitive style. Her art often centers on pure color, treating the artwork as an independent platform, a space of illusion. Through reduction and concentration, she creates captivating moments that inspire clarity and introspection.
For Dettmer, art is a medium that challenges us to engage with ourselves. Each of her works is conceived as a color space, an energetically charged setting that invites viewers to immerse themselves and feel the power and energy of color. Those who take the time to explore the interaction of color within the canvas and the surrounding space may discover a deeper understanding of themselves.
Following the pandemic, Jana Dettmer made an impressive comeback with multiple exhibitions in Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Lucca and ArtExpo New York. In conjunction with her New York exhibition, a limited American edition of the book "The Power of Colour" was published by ArtForum Editions.
This September, her "Square Project" will be presented at the Lavoir Vasserot exhibition hall, the historic washhouse of Saint-Tropez, France - close to her studio at the Cote d'Azur. This venue has previously hosted exhibitions by renowned artists such as Banksy and Stefan Szczesny.
As part of her "Modular Mixtures" series, Jana Dettmer developed "The Square Project," a work that explores the countless possibilities of color in space and the external impact of architecture.
"The Square Project" stands out from traditional art installations by integrating the surrounding space as a fundamental element of the artwork. Jana Dettmer tailors her installations by adjusting the size, number, arrangement, and color composition of the squares to suit the character of each space. This results in unique artworks that harmoniously blend with the architecture. The custom-made installations of the Square Project not only consider the spatial conditions but also the geographical location and the individual character of the building.
The creation process of a Square Project installation is complex and multifaceted. It begins with the production of square paintings, which Dettmer creates in mixed media and multiple layers on wood. She does not merely replicate colors from a pre-established canon but interprets each color intuitively and dynamically. By using various painting mediums and tools, she creates vibrant textures and shades that make each color truly unique.
In the next phase, Jana Dettmer reproduces the painted works, continuously refining them, and prints them behind 6-millimeter-thick acrylic glass. This process enhances the depth and gloss of the color motif, creating a distinctive effect. These squares behind acrylic glass become the elements that Dettmer then arranges into abstract, powerful geometric grid images, joining the individual square pieces with minimal spacing to form something entirely new. This format embodies her message: the courage to pursue new paths with determination and independence.
In recognition of her work, Jana Dettmer received this year the Winter Foundation Hamburg's Art Award.
For years, Dettmer has exhibited regularly across Europe and the United States. Her works are held in numerous private collections and are represented in national and international collections, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC, MAMAC in Nice, and the Women's Museum in Bonn.
To accompany the exhibition in Saint-Tropez, the artist book "Jana Dettmer, Modular Mixtures - The Square Project," edited by Peter Merten, ArtForum Editions (ISBN 978-3-910694-08-8), will be published.
Vernissage: September 5, 2024, 6:00 PM
Exhibition: September 6-11, 2024, 10 AM-1 PM and 3-7 PM
Lavoir Vasserot
1, Rue Joseph Quaranta
FR-83990 Saint-Tropez
©Artforum Culture Foundation