Hubert Pokrandt

Hubert Pokrandt does not believe in order. In his painting, probably the only constant is immanent chaos and lack of any plan which would build his compositions. When starting his work on a painting, he never knows which way his narration will go. His student works were much more flamboyant. Wild colours in darker shades, sometimes applied by generous portions of thick, oily paints, sometimes by delicate brush strokes, made his canvases energetic and vivid. Today, Pokrandt makes his works more sublime, simplifying them by introducing gentle figurative elements that emerge from rough, dirty surfaces. An important remark needed to assess his works properly is that for him preparing the ground is never a mechanical activity. His work begins when he finds a surface which inspires him. It may be a piece of fibreboard, plywood or plank, an old school painting, table top or the seat of a dilapidated chair. Scratches, cracks, flaws or stains are beginnings of a new composition. He adds to them his own intuitive images and stories. He says: “I think I paint out of sheer curiosity, just to see again as something materializes. I like the moments when I manage to create something I was thinking about a few years back, which was nagging me and I didn’t quite know why. And then, lo and behold – it appears in front of me.” Do not be fooled by the modest number of exhibitions in which Pokrandt has participated so far. Concentrating on the creative act, the artist has little time for self-promotion and publicity. Others have to take care of that. In my opinion, he is one of a kind and a certainly noteworthy artist.