Artist: Dirk Salz

Bluerider ART Shanghai · The Bund presents “Dirk Salz: Dimensions of Light and Color”. This exhibition distilled abstraction of the essence of light and color, taking viewers into a realm between the tangible and the ethereal. It invites each observer to reflect on their surroundings and themselves during the act of viewing. With a high level of technical expertise and aesthetic sensitivity, Salz’s works probe the boundaries and possibilities of human perception. Presenting Dirk Salz’s medium- to large-scale creations for the first time.

Dirk Salz (Germany, b. 1962)was born in a family of artists and developed a deep appreciation for painting and art history at a young age. Currently based in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, Salz’s creative process abandons traditional tools like brushes and canvases. Instead, he uses paint rollers and the gravitational force of resin to break free from minimalist conventions, exploring transparency, color dynamics, and the interplay between light and space. His works are part of the Akzo Nobel Art Foundation’s collection and numerous private collections worldwide.

The exhibition title, Dimensions of Light and Color, delves into the multidimensional nature of light and color as artistic mediums. Light symbolizes revelation and energy, forming the foundation of all visual art. Color, as the language of emotion and life, offers endless possibilities. The term “dimensions” extends beyond physical structures into spiritual realms, as the interplay between light, minimalist color blocks, and lines blurs the boundaries between reality and illusion. Salz leads viewers into an immersive sensory experience that challenges perception and understanding.

Deeply influenced by abstract expressionism and minimalism from the 1940s to 1970s, Salz incorporates lines, colors, shapes, and abstract compositions to convey emotions and ideas while rejecting figurative representation. He draws inspiration from pioneers like Mark Rothko, who created meditative atmospheres with vast color fields; Barnett Newman, who used monochrome backgrounds and vertical lines for striking visual impact; and Donald Judd and Dan Flavin, whose works featured simple geometric forms and industrial materials. Additionally, James Turrell’s use of light as a medium blurred the boundaries between physical and psychological spaces, expanding sensory experiences of light and color. Salz extends and transcends these traditions. He moves beyond imitation or representation of light and color, letting them become the artwork’s essence. Using reflective and technical properties of industrial materials, Salz transforms light and color into dynamic elements within multidimensional spaces, inviting viewers to become part of the work.

Dirk Salz primarily works with epoxy resin, a material known for its exceptional transparency and mirror-like finish, which creates depth and amplifies the layers of pigment. The resin reflects the viewer and surroundings, giving the artwork a dynamic quality that changes with perspective and lighting conditions. Once cured, the resin becomes highly durable and stable, ensuring long-term preservation in different environments. However, working with resin is a meticulous and time-consuming process. It requires precision to avoid air bubbles, uneven surfaces, and environmental factors like dust and humidity. Salz often uses wooden panels as the foundation for his works, providing a solid base for the resin application. Through geometric arrangements, his works achieve a minimalist visual effect, drawing the viewer’s focus to the interplay between material, light, and reflection.

This exhibition presents Dirk Salz’s medium- to large-scale creations for the first time. 《DSA/M 1173# 2875》A large piece over two meters in length, featuring abstract color blocks layered with pigments and resin. It offers the illusion of visual depth that simultaneously feels reflective and penetrative. 《DSA/M 1214# 2915》Guides the viewer’s gaze from dark tones to a central white area, creating a sense of stillness through subtle transparency and tonal gradations. 《DSA/M 1326# 3022》A large circular piece in red, where the darker tones seem to radiate outward to the edges, creating an expansive diffusion effect. As the viewer shifts their gaze, the interplay of light and reflection draws them into Salz’sboundless dimensions of “existence from void” and “interdependence of illusion and reality.”

Dirk Salz: Dimensions of Light and Color is a distilled abstraction of the essence of light and color, taking viewers into a realm between the tangible and the ethereal. It invites each observer to reflect on their surroundings and themselves during the act of viewing. With a high level of technical expertise and aesthetic sensitivity, Salz’s works probe the boundaries and possibilities of human perception.