Igor Minárik — Teared

Igor Minárik is an important Slovak representative of analytical painting, a style that explores and reflects upon the possibilities and properties of the painting medium. He has devoted his long career to drawing and paintings exclusively, while focusing on the analysis of their basic elements of expression – lines, colour, or surface. However, he does not recognise these two media as two separate surfaces, on the other hand, he removes the border between the two and combines them into a co-called “drawpainting”. Another characteristic feature of Minárik’s work is the use of collages which often add the third dimension to the artwork. Specifically, he uses assemblage to add collected objects to his works. He is also known for his slow, contemplative work process. He focuses on smaller pieces which require larger amounts of concentration. Regarding his visual apparatus, he concentrates on capturing various organic and geometric shapes that are inspired by nature. Minárik’s centre of interest lies in the colour scheme which he uses to express the overall character of his works. 

Teared is a part of Minárik’s early works where he did not focus as much on the colour scheme as he did on the analysis of shapes and their structure. The more intimate paper format blends the techniques of drawing, painting and collage. This combination results in portraying a derived natural motive. The dark vertical lines in the background represent plant stems while the newspaper cuts glued to the bottom stand for their leaves. By suppressing the colour saturation to the contrasting tones of white, yellow and black, the author initiates a dynamic play of lights and shadows. He uses contrasting colours to turn the focus on the composition of the seemingly contradicting connection between organic and geometric elements – a principle which can be found in more of Minárik’s works. Rapid brush strokes, reduced colour palette, expression of structure or the overall rough visuality of the artwork make it a fine example of early neo-expressive abstraction.