Stanley Whitney

For his first collaboration with BORCH Editions, Stanley Whitney created a number of large-scale coloured monotypes alongside a series of black-and-white etchings. We are excited to present the works in BORCHs Butik in Copenhagen.

In his monotypes, Whitney organizes the plate by means of horizontal and vertical lines, using the colour fields in between to reflect on the qualities of the single colours as well as their relation to each other. Monotypes are prints created on a featureless plate. In contrast to other printing techniques, the artist does not leave permanent marks on the plate, but simply paints on its surface. The plate thus serves as vehicle to transfer the artist’s painting or drawing onto paper, resulting a print with a unique character. The image cannot be repeated exactly, but the residue, the “ghost” left on the plate, gives the artist the possibility to test many variations of an image.

In his series of eight black-and-white etchings, Whitney abandons his signature grid in favour of a more investigative approach, skilfully exploring the possibilities of different etching techniques, often layering one over the other, creating works of remarkable spatial depth.

Stanley Whitney’s work is a vibrant statement for the significance of abstraction in contemporary art. He is best known for his works on canvas, grids of variously sized and proportioned blocks in different colours, separated by horizontal and vertical bands. While his style might evoke associations of 20^th century minimalism, his deliberate rejection of geometric accuracy and his energetic, joyful brushstroke provide for a highly unique style.