Martin Werthmann : Woodblock Prints

Wilding Cran Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition of large scale, monotypic woodblock prints by Berlin based artist Martin Werthmann. 

Werthmann’s engrossing prints recall the surfaces of paintings that have been built up in layers and then sanded down in areas, revealing glimpses of the history of their own making.

Werthmann carves into wood block panels and prints onto paper in multiple layers that form his unique collage-like final pieces. He approaches the process more as installation than painting— boards are screwed to the floor, paper is folded over the inked elements repeatedly, creating many coats, most of the works are the result of 10 or more printed layers. The prints often exceed 6 x 10 feet – dimensions considered unusually large for woodblock prints.

On the surface, Werthmann’s works are an aesthetically engaging series of patterns and textures, yet with more investigation the images reveal a tension and subtle melancholy. The motifs and patterns in his prints 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. The result is an immersive experience of teeming patterns and diffused imagery.