Friedrich Zettl

Welcome, art enthusiasts, to an intimate look at my latest significant body of work: the "Nothingness in Color" series. This collection represents a profound evolution in my artistic practice, stemming from years of exploring the essence of form and meaning through a minimalist lens.

The Genesis of Nothingness: From Monochrome to Chromatic Depth

My artistic journey began with a deep immersion in monochrome, a deliberate stripping away of all but the most fundamental elements. This foundation laid the groundwork for the "Nothingness in Color" series, which courageously, yet gradually, embraced the spectrum. At its core, my minimalist approach remains steadfast, deeply interwoven with the timeless philosophies of Zen painting and Daoism. These ancient wisdoms continue to guide my hand, reminding me that profound meaning can reside in simplicity, and that the void itself is a fertile ground for creation.

The Art of Omission and the Paradox of Presence

In "Nothingness in Color," I returned to the challenging principle of omission. It’s an intriguing paradox: how do you remove elements when there's already so little left? Yet, within this extreme reduction, the absolute essential—the very heartbeat of my artistic signature—emerges: contrasts. This series is a testament to the powerful interplay of opposing forces, a dance of:

Movement and Stillness

Power and Softness

Darkness and Light

While these paintings might appear deceptively simple, their creation is often profoundly challenging. My process involves navigating numerous pitfalls: avoiding the merely "pleasing," resisting cheap effects, and striving to impress through nuanced color alone. My constant goal is to blur the line between the concrete and the abstract, to discover that delicate balance where the work resonates most authentically. This continuous search often feels like a precarious balancing act, but it's precisely where the true essence of the work takes form.

Echoes of Emptiness, Whispers of Light

From the "Nothingness in Color" series, this piece embodies a minimalist dialogue between presence and absence. Luminous strokes of blue, green, and subtle gold emerge from the deep void, akin to "whispers of light" animating the "echoes of emptiness." Inspired by Zen and Daoist principles, it explores the profound interplay of light and shadow, inviting contemplation on the dynamic contrasts that define existence.

Adding to "Nothingness": The Creative Imperative

As artists practicing omission, we inevitably reach a limit—a zenith, much like in life itself. When we choose to leave something out, we must then fill the resulting "emptiness" with something else. This could be a single ray of light, a splash of color, or a precise line. Crucially, these additions must always remain subservient to the overarching concept of nothingness, enhancing it rather than overwhelming it.

In this next phase, I consciously chose to add rather than solely omit. This presents a unique challenge: how to introduce more elements without compromising the fundamental idea of nothingness, or losing the dynamic flow and the essential interplay of opposing poles.

Meditations on Absence

This piece from the "Nothingness in Color" series delves into the profound concept of absence, a core tenet of Zen and Daoist philosophy. Against a vast, dark ground, fragmented bursts of color – primarily vibrant reds and blues – appear as fleeting thoughts or echoes. Each luminous mark serves as a point of contemplation, inviting the viewer to meditate on the power of the unsaid, the unseen, and the dynamic tension between the void and the brief, energetic moments of presence.

Diving Deeper: Microcosm, Macrocosm, and Musical Resonance

The painting "Essence of Flow" directly addresses this challenge of adding while preserving the core. It strives to embody this claim while also introducing the concept of microcosm versus macrocosm, hinting at the spherical nature of these unseen forces within the minimalist field.

My piece, "Flickers of Being," was originally conceived as the singular "State of the Art 2025." However, its subtleties don't always translate effectively on screen, prompting the decision to present the entire series instead. My intention for each of these "flickers" was to imbue them with meaning, without being overly specific. More importantly, I aimed to create a dialogue between all the individual elements—a constant endeavor in my work. This painting, like others in the series, carries a strong affinity with the music of Anton von Webern, whose post-romantic, minimalist approach deeply resonates with my artistic heart.

Whispers of Genesis

Part of the "Nothingness in Color" series, "Whispers of Genesis" explores the profound moment of creation emerging from the void, echoing the tenets of Daoist philosophy. Dynamic lines and luminous colors — notably blues, reds, and golden earth tones — subtly coalesce against the deep black, suggesting nascent forms and directional energy. This painting captures the delicate balance between the formless and the emergent, portraying a quiet, elemental beginning where presence softly unfurls from absence.

Embracing the Full Spectrum: The Challenge of "Heart of the Silence"

"Heart of the Silence" takes this exploration a step further, opening up to a full color palette. It's often simpler to achieve a harmonious expression when working with fewer colors. Each additional color, however, introduces a new layer of "excitement," making the pursuit of meditative expression, tranquility, and a sense of the eternal considerably more difficult. Yet, this challenge is precisely where the deeper conversation of "Nothingness in Color" truly begins.

Heart of the Silence

From the "Nothingness in Color" series, "Heart of the Silence" delves into the profound quietude that can emerge even within a full chromatic palette. Here, vibrant hues, anchored by a commanding red presence, bloom against the deep black, defying the inherent "excitement" of a broader spectrum. This piece embodies the challenge of achieving meditative expression and tranquility amidst increased complexity, revealing the harmonious and eternal core within the dynamic interplay of color and the infinite void.

My Artistic Signature: What Makes "Nothingness in Color" Unique

Even a president finds reason to praise himself, so as an artist, I feel entitled to share why I believe this "State of the Art 2025" series truly represents a pinnacle in my work.

Firstly, I've dedicated myself to developing a distinct style and, indeed, my own unique technique. Many artists spend their entire careers striving for a recognizable artistic signature—creating works immediately attributable to them. This pursuit is as challenging in visual art as it is in any other creative discipline.

Furthermore, this current series seamlessly integrates with my work from recent years. Its foundational ideas remain consistent, rooted deeply in Daoist and Zen philosophies. While simply replicating the Old Masters holds little purpose, I find it essential to cultivate these profound philosophical concepts and reinterpret them within a contemporary context. For instance, modern quantum physics, with its confirmation of entanglement, echoes principles Zen embraced over a century ago. In my painting, I strive to incorporate this aspect of interconnectedness—the entanglement of lines, dots, and forms.

This endeavor has led me to forge a style that masterfully blends Western and Far Eastern artistic ideas. Far fewer painters achieve this synthesis than one might imagine. Many still recall the groundbreaking collaboration between Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin; their "West Meets East" album remains a musical milestone, a parallel to the artistic bridge I aim to build.

I could continue this list, but that's quite enough self-congratulation :)

Music and Painting

Music plays a significant role in my artistic process, alongside the philosophical concepts of Daoism and Zen Buddhism that deeply influence my work. While the music I listen to while painting can set the tone for a piece, it is often the underlying structure and ideas within the music that shape my creative expression.

Johann Sebastian Bach holds a special place in my heart, and his work has a profound influence on my painting. I find particular inspiration in Glenn Gould's interpretation of Bach. Gould’s approach—deconstructing Bach’s compositions, meticulously exploring their individual parts, and then reassembling them—parallels my own process in visual art. This idea of breaking down and reconstructing elements resonates with the way I approach my brushwork and composition.

Bach's influence on my art [offer]

Another strong influence on my art is the contemporary composer Arvo Pärt. His minimalist, deeply spiritual music often inspires me to explore visual translations of his work. One piece that has particularly influenced me is Pärt’s "Spiegel im Spiegel" (Mirror in the Mirror). The simplicity and repetition in the music mirror the meditative nature of my creative process, and I have worked to visually capture the emotional depth of his compositions.

Arvo Pärt "Mirror in the Mirror" [offer]

Brian Eno and his ambient music have also shaped my artistic journey. His album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" serves as a direct source of inspiration, with its innovative use of sound layering influencing the textures and layers in my paintings. The concept of ambient music—creating an atmosphere rather than a linear progression—reflects my approach to creating art that invites contemplation and immersion.

Brian Eno and David Byrne "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" [offer]

Music, for me, is not merely a background element but a conceptual tool that informs the rhythm, structure, and emotional tone of my work. Through this interplay between sound and visual art, I seek to create pieces that evoke a deeper connection and meditative experience for the viewer.

Recent exhibitions

After participating in exhibitions in London (Boomer Gallery) at the beginning of May 2024 and Sao Paolo (Imaginarium Exhibition) 25 May - 08 June 2024, another gallery shows 7 works by me, metaspace gallery. This is an online exhibition called “Silence”.

Boomer Gallery, 150 Tooley Street, SE1 2TUMay 10th – 15th Exhibition title: “The Dark Side”.

Artly Mix - Rua Pelotas - Vila Mariana, São Paulo - State of São Paulo, Brazil05/25 – 06/18 Exhibition title: Imaginarium Exhibition https://www.artlymix.com

Metaspacegallery https://metaspacegallery.com 

Started May 25th 2024 ongoing. Exhibition title: Silence

All three galleries did a great job.

New Work Added: Zen in Calligraphy

I’m pleased to introduce Zen in Calligraphy, a new piece from my Painted Calligraphy series. This unique art form, which I developed, involves repeatedly writing Chinese texts—often poems—until a structure and vision gradually emerge. The work is the result of meticulously crafted calligraphy, combined with confident brushwork and ink techniques, where the subtle use of gray tones plays a key role.

This piece was created using hand-ground Chinese ink, allowing for the delicate interplay of fine gray tones. The result is an additional layer where the lightest grays merge seamlessly with the deepest blacks, adding depth and dimension to the work.

Throughout the calligraphy process, the focus was on remaining contemplative, avoiding any conceptual pursuit. The textures emerged naturally, reflecting the meditative approach. The short video provides insight into the creation of Zen in Calligraphy, showcasing each stage of the process and highlighting the final details.

youtube-video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw16qu6aWcA

Video Featuring My Artwork for Bacopa Publishing

I’m excited to share that Bacopa Publishing has released a video showcasing my paintings of the underwater world. This video presents a collection of works I’ve been dedicated to for the past three years, exploring various aspects of the sea and diving through abstract and semi-abstract approaches.

Many of these pieces are deeply influenced by Asian philosophy, which plays a central role in my artistic process.

To fully enjoy the details of the artwork, I recommend watching the video on a PC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTLPQKPnMS4

Black Zen. Today, I would like to present a work that is part of a series called “painted calligraphy”. 

These contemporary works are inspired by traditional Chinese calligraphy and are philosophically influenced by the ideas of Zen Buddhism and Daoism. 

In these works, old texts, mostly poems, are written over one another again and again in different ways to create a texture with artistic appeal or a poetic touch. Each character is written with the greatest care, and the rhythm is maintained to ensure the highest quality. Although the finished product may appear monotonous at first glance, it reveals secrets and invites you to meditate. Through disciplined precision when writing each individual character, an overall picture is created that is characterized by harmony, even if the work could initially be perceived as chaotic.

The Daoist aspect primarily involves playing with the opposites yin and yang. This achieves a result in which silence and noise are present at the same time as dynamism and calm, big and small or chaos and order. 

Music plays an important role in the creation of these works. In this specific case, the work was performed to music by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

This short video shows how the work was created [youtube-video]

About Zen Moments

Among the categories of Friedrich Zettl’s works on Artmajeur, Zen Moments hold particular significance.

Zen Landscape

Zen Philosophy and Art

Zen, a philosophy rooted in mindfulness and living in the present moment, originated in China and later profoundly influenced Japanese culture. Often associated with meditation and mindfulness practices, Zen helps individuals achieve inner peace and tranquility. This philosophy also extends into the realm of art, particularly painting.

Zen Moment

Zen in Painting

Zen has had a lasting impact on Japanese painting, inspiring styles that emphasize simplicity, minimalism, and presence. Zen paintings are typically created using brush and ink, aiming to capture the essence of the subject rather than its detailed physical appearance. Common subjects include landscapes, animals, and elements of the natural world.

A Sound in the Silence 

On the eve of Halloween 2023 I put together a short. It seems a bit dystopian, but that may have something to do with the globally tense times.

youtube-video

All portraits shown are based on 2 original works from the mid-1980s. They were recreated with graphic programs, one of which is AI-supported, and do justice to their new task of addressing Halloween.

Just as the living and the dead meet on Halloween evening, the graphics also show very realistic, lively elements and at the same time the destructive, ending thing - death.

Of course, it's fun that shouldn't be taken more seriously than Halloween itself.

Welcome to My Art Blog on Artmajeur!

I’m excited to welcome you to my blog here on Artmajeur, where I will share insights into my artistic journey and the philosophy behind my work. For the past three years, I’ve been showcasing my art online, primarily through my main blog at [zettl.blog](https://zettl.blog). I focus on exploring the connection between Asian painting, especially Chinese, and its philosophical roots. I aim to bring a similar depth to this platform, shedding light on both the artistic and technical aspects of Asian art, so you can better appreciate the works I offer.

In the Videos section, additional material complements my artwork, providing a deeper understanding of the process and thought behind each piece.

My Artistic Journey

I began painting in the late 1970s, initially influenced by surrealism and later by expressionism. In 1976, I started studying Sinology, alongside ethnology and art history. In 1979, after overcoming some initial challenges, I had the unique opportunity to study at the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, becoming the first European to do so after the Cultural Revolution. During my time there, I studied painting, calligraphy, and the art of seal carving, eventually writing my dissertation on Chinese freehand painting, a style deeply rooted in Daoist philosophy.

This form of painting can be seen as applied philosophy, with concepts like yin-yang playing a central role in shaping Chinese art. Though terms like "Zen" and "Tao" are often used loosely, I strive to present a traditional perspective, one that has remained unchanged for over a thousand years.

Through this blog, I will delve into the philosophical and technical aspects of my works, offering a deeper look into how these timeless ideas influence my art. If you ever have questions, feel free to reach out—I'm always happy to discuss these topics further.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoy exploring my work!
Warm regards,

Friedrich Zettl

Friedrich Zettl with HE Ambassador Qi Mei.