Charlotte Herzig

In the midst of an energetic dance, the shapes on Charlotte Herzig's new lithographs seem to be caught. The repetition of motifs sets the rhythm while the colors provide a certain musicality. Seemingly simple geometric elements like the wavy lines and triangles suggest movement in different directions and give the images an inner dynamic. Like a choreographer, Herzig arranges altered ordinary motifs such as leaves, hands, shrubs, and hills into a colorful interplay that invites the viewer to immersion. The simplicity of the forms brings out the texture of the brushes, stamps, and stencils used – almost as if the artist wanted to honor her tools with these shapes. In the center of each of the lithographs, Charlotte Herzig has inserted a small-format watercolor with luminous bulges, making each sheet a serial unique piece. The watercolor functions as an anchor point in the dreamlike landscapes, which are suffused with lightness. It gives both series a varying continuity and builds a bridge between the works "_Love_ (miniature)" and "Light Fast (miniature)".

The choreographic aspect and spontaneity that emerge in Charlotte Herzig's works are also central to the process of creating her large-format paintings. Without a preliminary sketch, the artist sets to work on the canvas, letting her intuition and physical sensations guide her in a kind of improvisation. Before leaving the studio, Herzig interiorizes her paintings so that she is always accompanied by the latest version of a work and lets it continue having a physical effect on her. The composition should feel balanced and evoke a sense of fluidity. With the current edition, the artist explored her intuitive approach to painting by translating segments of existing canvases into the medium of lithography. Working in the printmaking studio allowed her to consciously observe the way her paintings are constructed, and thus gain a better understanding of her own practice.

Charlotte Herzig created a large mural in 2022 as part of a "Kunst am Bau project" in the Neuer Kaiserhaus in Bern. She was awarded the Leenards Art Scholarship in 2021. The Lucerne Art Museum dedicated the trio exhibition "I Like a Bigger Garden" with Ben Sledsens and Joséphine Troller to her in 2021.