Painting in Stone by Johannes Kuhnen
Exhibition
/
08 May 2015
-
06 Jun 2015
Published: 21.04.2015
Bilk Gallery
- Mail:
- gallery
bilk.com.au
- Phone:
- +61 (0) 2 61622761
- Management:
- Helen Aitken-Kuhnen, Johannes Kuhnen, Mio Kuhnen

Taking back the former prominence of metals, in the new works of the artist texture and surface finish reinforce the dialogue of subtle natural colours of stone.
Johannes Kuhnen has found more time recently since departing from his long held position as Head of the Gold and Silversmithing Workshop at the Australian National University, a roll he held for over 29 years. This new found time has allowed Kuhnen the space and capacity to explore a new body of work, an exciting departure from his iconic aluminium and titanium oeuvre.
PAINTING IN STONE is a series of brooches, pendents and rings. Inspired by the Colour Fields paintings of the 1940’s and 50’s as well as the work of minimalist artist Robert Mangold, whose large and bright geometric constructions share a similar aesthetic to much of Kuhnen’s smaller in scale work. For this exhibition Kuhnen has used found sedimentary and volcanic rocks and stones as his principle material. Kuhnen creates flat planes with subtle combinations colour, using the natural appearance of the stones as his palette. This body of work is about colours and surfaces exploring the endless possibilities of the natural hues and textures found in his chosen material. While sourced from the landscape, these works are not of the landscape, Kuhnen says “the use of stone in this work is a means of stepping away from aluminium and extending my work with another material”. While Kuhnen’s use of stone can be traced back to works from 1985 and throughout his career, this is the first time it has made such a predominate appearance in a body of work.
Each piece uses two or three stones or rocks to generate horizontal coloured bars for the brooches and vertical constructions for the pendants. By creating minimal but protective armatures of titanium and gold that house either the brooch catch or the pendant attachment Kuhnen shows his deep understanding of his chosen materials. This combined with his supreme craftsmanship allows him to work with even the softest or most stubborn of stone. Kuhnen stresses the importance of the surface in these pieces, leaving the cut face of the material natural, while polishing up the remaining areas to create a delicate but significant contrast of surface finishes.
PAINTING IN STONE is about the artist, surface and a set of materials and an exhibition not to be missed.
Brooch: Untitled, 2015
Found stone, titanium
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Brooch: Untitled, 2015
Found stone, titanium
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ring: Untitled, 2015
Found stone, titanium
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Pendant: Untitled, 2015
Found stone, titanium, stainless steel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Pendant: Untitled, 2015
Found stone, titanium, stainless steel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Pendant: Untitled, 2015
Found stone, titanium, stainless steel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Bilk Gallery
- Mail:
- gallery
bilk.com.au
- Phone:
- +61 (0) 2 61622761
- Management:
- Helen Aitken-Kuhnen, Johannes Kuhnen, Mio Kuhnen
-
Con-tacto. Centro de Diseño, Cine y Televisión. Degree Show 2020
24May2021 - 21Jun2021
Centro de Diseño, Cine y Televisión
Mexico City, Mexico -
Simply Brilliant. Artist Jewelers of the 1960s and 1970s
27Mar2021 - 27Jun2021
Pforzheim Jewellery Museum
Pforzheim, Germany -
Masterpieces in Miniature. Treasures from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection
05Mar2021 - 15Aug2021
DIVA. Antwerp Home of Diamonds
Antwerp, Belgium -
Invisible Thread
01Feb2021 - 27Feb2021
Bayerischer Kunstgewerbeverein
Munich, Germany -
Preziosa Young 2020 in Barcelona
13Jan2021 - 03Feb2021
Hannah Gallery
Barcelona, Spain -
Like Silk
12Jan2021 - 12Feb2021
EASD València
Valencia, Spain -
HomeWork by Melanie Bilenker
08Jan2021 - 11Feb2021
Sienna Patti
Lenox, United States -
An Octopus's Garden of Silly Delights by Ulvi Haagensen x Morfosis by Ihan Toomik and Andreas Kivisild
06Jan2021 - 27Feb2021
A-Gallery
Tallinn, Estonia -
Fables for the Times. Presentation of Artist in Residence Program Revive in Ten
25Dec2020 - 05Jan2021
MEI-BO Art Museum
Shanghai, China -
Schmuckmelange. Die KunstModeDesign Herbststrasse. Degree Show 2020
21Dec2020 - 31Dec2020
Die KunstModeDesign Herbststrasse. Evening College JewelleryDesign
Vienna, Austria -
The Palace of Shattered Vessels: Light Catchers
19Dec2020 - 31Mar2021
FROOTS & Nogart
Shanghai, China -
See the Big from the Small
19Dec2020 - 03Jan2021
The Closer Gallery
Beijing, China -
Absolutely Abstract
17Dec2020 - 09Jan2021
Lee Eugean Gallery
Seoul, South Korea -
Breath/Nefes
15Dec2020 - 31Dec2020
Jewelry Links
Istanbul, Turkey -
WARP Tokyo-Barcelona
14Dec2020 - 20Dec2020
AC,Gallery
Tokyo, Japan