John Franzen was born in Aachen, Germany. He grew up in Belgium. Later he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Maastricht, Netherlands 2002-2007, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Working in various disciplines and materials, he focuses on the theme and production of complex frames of concepts with the focus of the inherent primordiality.
He lives and works in Maastricht, Netherlands and as an artist and conceptor. “Each line one breath” titles a limited edition of 50 freehand drawings, which focuses on an artistic and graphic interpretation of evolution through the use of simple drawn lines. The edition starts from the premise that the initiation of any drawing, its fundamental prerequisite – A LINE – coincides with the most basic and transcendental state of life, the perception of breathing.
The resulting artworks are reminiscent of a wave-motion-pattern transporting energy through space-time, such as any electromagnetic wave, or the pattern of a DNA-replication. Lines and layers are like a primordial code or anatomic pattern assembling, arranging and composing the manifestation of energy and matter. Lines are everywhere to find.
In waves of sound and light, in water and dunes, growth rings and lines of trees, skin and stratum, tree formations in the forest, the falling rain, the grass luffing in the wind. The consecutive synthesis of lines bedded next to each other depicts an allegory to the stratification of constant transmission and fusion of matter. Any kind of an existence to me is the materialized conclusion of these very basic forces.
“… When I draw, I draw the void. Not the line. I focus on the nothingness around the line. It is a sort of meditation. My mind is clear. My focus is on the mere moment. There is only this one moment. Every time the same moment. Everything else is still. Never thoughts are louder and feelings profounder than in this moment.
My mind transcends into bare presence. Personality becomes formless and nameless. With each breath the emptiness is filled more and more. With every line I get closer to my real origin…” For more information, to buy J. Frazen’s art or to get in touch with him, we invite you to follow the link below.