Anna Tatarczyk. Playing with light, form, and colour

The birth of the rhombus
 

Anna Tatarczyk, born in Wodzisław Śląski in 1973, found her artistic expression not only through the clear form of the rhombus, but also through her examination of space and movement. For years, her work has focused intensively on the representation of this geometric form, which in her paintings stands on its tip and appears to float in the air. But for her, the rhombus is much more than just an aesthetic decision. It is a symbol that is deeply rooted in human history. Even as early as the prehistoric era, the rhombus represented the orbits of the celestial bodies, and it can still be seen in coats-of-arms and ancient heathen sites today. For Tatarczyk, the rhombus is a primordial “ur-form” which stands for clarity, perfection and transformability. “The more obstacles I incorporate into my works, the more ideas come to mind”, she says of the inexhaustible creativity that emerges from form limitations.

 

Colours as magical illusionists
 

However, colour also plays a key role in Tatarczyk’s art. Her works wouldn’t be the same without her precise choice and careful interplay of colour nuances. “Colour creates the illusion of three-dimensionality and light refraction”, she explains. In her paintings, the rhombus is not only visible through its geometric form, but also through the subtle gradation of colours. In “Rubikon Aqua”, she uses 21 shades of blue – within 100 fields. This reduced colour palette enables Tatarczyk to produce an almost hypnotic degree of depth. Colours and forms merge to create a dimension that the observer can almost reach out and touch. The precision and sensitivity with which she works turn her paintings into optical illusions which resonate intellectually as well as emotionally.

 

Light as a hidden dimension
 

Standing in front of one of her works, the light that Tatarczyk has incorporated into her paintings is almost palpable. She describes her technique as a “surgical” operation, in which colours are precisely attuned to each other in order to refract the light and create the impression of three-dimensionality. “It’s like painting light”, she says. For Tatarczyk, playing with light and colour is not only a technical challenge, but also an opportunity to communicate “calm and harmony”. The clarity and symmetry of her compositions radiate an almost meditative, poetic aura.

 

The influence of dance
 

Although Tatarczyk concentrates on geometric abstractions, her work remains infused with a sense of movement and lightness that is reminiscent of dance. Movement in space – the conscious play with body and space – also dominates her painting. The rhombus, which is shown standing on its tip, appears to rotate, tip and sway rhythmically. Tatarczyk describes her painting as a “planned dance choreography”. She recognises parallels between the regularity of her paintings and the structured sequences of dance. The rhombus moves on the canvas much in the same way a dancer moves through space.

 

Art as personal development
 

Tatarczyk’s route to becoming an artist was by no means a direct one. In the country where she was born, Poland, she grew up during a period when artistic freedom was limited. She came to Germany in 1994 to create a new life for herself. There, she discovered her passion for art. After graduating in German studies and philosophy, she decided to enrol at the Academy of Fine Arts (Kunstakademie) in Düsseldorf, where she studied under A.R. Penck and Siegfried Anzinger and found her true calling as an artist. Today, she lives and works in Düsseldorf and Wuppertal.

 

An individual contribution to concrete art
 

Tatarczyk’s work cannot easily be assigned to traditional artistic categories. While her art could be described as a mixture between concrete art, op-art and minimalist design, it is more than just a mixture of these currents. “My aim is to paint good pictures”, she says. She doesn’t feel bound to classic labels, but rather strives to create art that is both aesthetically pleasing and intellectually challenging. Her art is a constant investigation of form, colour and light, which leads to a very individual pictorial language.

 

Katarzyna Schieweck, January 2025

 

Artist’s website: www.anna-tatarczyk.de