Malene Landgreen

The work of Malene Landgreen (*1962 Copenhagen, DK) is characterised by complex mathematical compositions imbued with a sense of lightness through the targeted application of colour. Each piece is based on a complicated geometric framework that gives rise to a multitude of triangles and squares. The appearance at first sight is both asymmetric and chaotic. The artist creates this effect by picking out certain spaces in colour – light pastel tones set against a black background – while allowing others to visually fade into the background. The sense of asymmetry is heightened by Landgreen's deliberate use of soft, fluid forms. The result is a picture composed of seemingly random shapes. But the longer the viewer allows his gaze to linger, the more complex the composition becomes. In this regard, Landgreen borrows from the principles of constructivism. By splitting the pictorial space into a mathematically precise grid, she endeavours to create a harmonious composition that serves as a basis for colour. She counters the monotony of the pictorial space subdivided into identical parts by painting fields in different colours, turning a complex grid into a vivid picture full of tension and depth.