In 2014 I started studying at the UDK in Berlin. During this time I tried out many different styles and began to create three-dimensional objects in which the materiality of the colors and their texture became the central focus of investigation.
During the pandemic I completed my master's degree and then went back to Luxembourg.
I want to explore the complexity of memory and identity, and our shared experiences that transcend time and space. Our mind is a labyrinth in which memories intertwine, distort and metamorphose. I try to capture this duality through abstract shapes and color combinations, creating compositions that oscillate between clarity and enigma. Shapes emerge and dissolve, colors mix and dissipate, creating a visual dance that reflects the transience of our thoughts and memories.
The layering technique became my preferred medium of expression, a deliberate play of colors and textures. The fusion of different artistic mediums allows me to push the limits of creativity, to question the constraints of conventional representation and to give birth to a new pictorial narrative. It is a slow and deliberate process, requiring careful thought and meticulous execution. My inspiration comes from theater, performance, music and photography, but I consider myself primarily a painter and always strive to push the boundaries of this form of expression. The vibrant colors that permeate my works serve as a counterpoint to the dark tones that sometimes mark the subject. We are living in difficult times, it is inevitable that these realities are reflected in my artistic expression.
However, even in the midst of darkness, I strive to instill a glimmer of hope, resilience and celebration of life. The vibrant hues become a visual remedy, a testament to humanity’s indomitable spirit, and a reminder that beauty can emerge from even the most difficult circumstances. I strive to capture the intangible, give voice to the unspeakable, and evoke a sense of empathy and understanding in the viewer.
I am an avid observer, capturing minute details, fleeting emotions and fleeting moments. And it is through these impressions that I construct my works, I layer materials, textures, colors, while deciding what remains visible and what hides in the shadows, layer by layer, as if each layer was a precious memory. I invite you to get lost in my works, to let yourself be carried away by your own interpretations. Each viewer brings their own baggage, their own story, and that is what gives life to my works. My goal is to provoke reflection and invite the viewer to question the complexities of the world around them.
© Thierry Harpes
Muelle rota con vista al mar, 2024
Thierry Harpes
Acrylic and lacquer on primed and glued canvas
80 by 70 cm
„Muelle rota con vista al mar“ (Broken Dock with Sea View), 2024 is a work that challenges the traditional conventions of landscape painting. In this painting, the artist uses a combination of abstract lines and geometric shapes to depict a ruined pier that sits by the sea.
The composition is divided into two main sections: the upper part, which features a clear and serene sky with two celestial elements, a sun and a stylized cloud; and the lower part, which is dominated by lines and shapes that suggest the disintegrated structure of the pier. The black and brown lines represent the remains of the columns and beams, while the yellow and red tones add contrast and vitality to the scene.
The use of negative space and flat color areas invite the viewer to reflect on the interaction between man and nature, as well as the passage of time and its effect on human constructions. The choice of light colors and the simplicity of the shapes convey a feeling of calm and contemplation, despite the apparent desolation of the pier.
"Broken Dock with Sea View" is a work that combines elements of abstraction and realism, inviting the viewer to explore the relationship between the built and the natural, the ephemeral and the eternal. It is a visual meditation on the fragility of human structures in the face of the immensity and permanence of the sea.