TBD

Similar to his work titles, which are composed of capital letters like a code, the title of Bach‘s exhibition is not immediately and unambiguously apparent – TBD can have different meanings. Whether to be done, to be defined, to be discussed or to be decided, the acronym describes a vague state, and thus also touches on our current life situation, consisting of uncertainty and the need for constant flexibility. TBD suggests that there is something in the room, not yet quite tangible, without being clearly defined. Such moments can also be found within Bach's geometrically abstract paintings. Detached from any reference to concrete figuration, Bach's motifs are reflections on fundamental questions of pictorial architecture: In his compositions, depth of space meets color surface painting and two-dimensionality meets spatial constructions. Thus, his layered color and pattern surfaces create the illusion of a more or less deep space. At the same time, he leaves the conventional compositional pattern of a centered motif behind: the edge of the picture and the background become depth-giving levels, encountering large-scale monochrome, but not homogeneous components. One searches in vain for a fixed point – the eye wanders over the surface, along fine lines and edges into the painting’s depth and back to the surface. Bach creates the illusion of an arrangement that can be revised again and again. After careful examination, weighing, layering, and prioritizing, however, he allows it to pause at a very specific point. When that point is reached may not be clearly definable as an intuitive or calculated decision. The process of getting there, however, is the same as creating a subjective list of priorities, still to be done – whether the most important elements appear at the top is left solely to the judgment of the viewer. Enrico Bach (*1980 in Leipzig, lives in Karlsruhe) completed his master studies in 2011 at the State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe with Prof. Gustav Kluge. Since then, his works are represented in numerous national and international exhibitions, as well as private and institutional collections, including the Guangdong Museum of Arts, Guangzhou, Start Museum Shanghai, Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, Sammlung Würth, Schwäbisch Hall, Sammlung Ritter, Waldenbuch, KUNSTWERK Sammlung Klein, Eberdingen-Nussdorf and the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.