Maria Wæhrens | Etchings, Monoprints & Monotypes

Maria Wæhrens’ artistic impulse stems from those layers of consciousness that elude language and are difficult to grasp through the means of figurative art.

Wæhrens draws from sources that go beyond what is intellectually comprehensible – the body, emotions, and the subconscious – and transfers them into permanent physical manifestations.

Line and brushstroke are of central importance to Maria Wæhrens’ artistic work. They indicate movement and direction, and form the basis of complex, dynamic pictorial spaces which are characterized by the interplay of spontaneous mark-making and carefully considered compositions.

This concentration on line and brushstroke also guided Wæhrens’ first intensive exploration of the medium of printmaking. For her etchings, she investigated the effect of different printmaking techniques before developing her compositions on copper plates. Simultaneously she experimented with the effect of different colour combinations in her expressive, intuitive compositions in a series of test prints. This process resulted in three motives, one of which was not only printed as an edition, but additionally in two unique versions providing insight into her creative process. Apart from this, Wæhrens also worked with monotypes and monoprints, two traditional printing processes for creating unique pieces. The possibility of spontaneous mark-making with brush and colour suits her painterly approach and allows her to explore further possibilities of the medium beyond the serial aspect of printmaking.

I Take Care of You and Me
From 10 – 17 February a selection of Maria Wæhrens’ monoprints and monotypes will be on display at Wilson Saplana Gallery, Copenhagen.