Timo Grimm (*1990, Hamburg, Germany)

Timo Grimm’s works are illusions. At first glance, his paintings resemble broken 17th-century ceramic tiles, however, if examined more closely, they are revealed to be oil paintings on canvas. This confusion about the medium is triggered by real cracks visible on the paintings. They’re the result of a complex deconstruction of the canvas frame, with each piece carefully separated, stringed together, and finally assembled again. The viewer’s attention is drawn to the possibilities of the medium itself through the special and complex treatment of the initial material: the wooden frame. The evolution of painting will be achieved through the dismantling and reconstruction of the frame. This approach stands in contrast to a new era of artistic creation, which often incorporates digital or technological media for further development. In his works, Grimm achieves this development exclusively by using traditional painting supplies. The modified canvas provides a new narrative to the traditional images presented on it. It demonstrates gratitude toward the manner in which these drawings were created in the past. Grimm applies, in a sense, similar methods used by craftsmen earlier in history while creating new combinations.