On the surface, Martin Werthmann’s work presents an aesthetically engaging series of patterns and textures, yet with more investigation the images reveal a tension and subtle melancholy. The motifs and patterns are created from found images of dramatic events such as car accidents and explosions, juxtaposed with more traditionally beatific elements like picturesque landscapes and water surfaces. Aside from pure aesthetic interest, Werthmann’s attraction to catastrophe is derived from the impression of moments of societal disruption, which break up the patterns of daily life. Each piece reveals glimpses into the history of its own making, exposing a buildup of layers. The result is an immersive experience of teeming patterns and diffused imagery.
Now based in Berlin, Martin Werthmann (b.1982) studied from 2004 to 2009 at the Academy of Fine Arts Hamburg, with Andreas Slominski. He also was a student of Wim Wenders, Fatih Akin and Daniel Richter. In 2019 Werthmann designed the scenery and backdrop for the opera Die Tote Stadt at Theatre Bremen. Recent solo exhibitions include Heldenreizer Contemporary/ Munich, Galerie Tore Suessbier/Berlin and MPV Gallery/The Netherlands.