Seuloeil (white) by Otto Piene, a limited-edition screen print from 1991, captures a surreal, abstracted eye that dominates the composition with its haunting presence. Rendered in stark black and white, the print emphasizes contrast, with a central circular form resembling a pupil surrounded by a darkened area, suggesting an intense gaze. Above the eye, a thick, curved stroke arcs gracefully, evoking an eyelid or eyebrow, while soft shading adds depth. Piene’s minimalist yet striking design invites contemplation on themes of perception, observation, and the mysterious nature of vision, emphasizing the silent power of a single eye.
Otto Piene (Germany, 1928–2014) was a pioneering artist and co-founder of the ZERO movement, known for his innovative light and fire art. His works explored immateriality and energy, incorporating mediums like smoke, fire, and projections. Iconic pieces such as Light Ballet reflect his fascination with light as a transformative force in art.
Screen-print Screen printing is a technique where ink is transferred through a mesh onto a substrate, with areas blocked by a stencil to prevent ink from passing through. This method, also known as serigraphy or silkscreen printing, is commonly used to produce prints on posters, T-shirts, vinyl, stickers, wood, and other materials. The process is a type of stencil printing, allowing for vibrant, detailed designs on various surfaces.
Seuloeil (white) by Otto Piene, a limited-edition screen print from 1991, captures a surreal, abstracted eye that dominates the composition with its haunting presence. Rendered in stark black and white, the print emphasizes contrast, with a central circular form resembling a pupil surrounded by a darkened area, suggesting an intense gaze. Above the eye, a thick, curved stroke arcs gracefully, evoking an eyelid or eyebrow, while soft shading adds depth. Piene’s minimalist yet striking design invites contemplation on themes of perception, observation, and the mysterious nature of vision, emphasizing the silent power of a single eye.
Otto Piene (Germany, 1928–2014) was a pioneering artist and co-founder of the ZERO movement, known for his innovative light and fire art. His works explored immateriality and energy, incorporating mediums like smoke, fire, and projections. Iconic pieces such as Light Ballet reflect his fascination with light as a transformative force in art.
Light is my medium. Previously, paintings and sculptures seemed to glow. Now they do.
- Otto Piene
Otto Piene is a German artist who studied art at both the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and the Academy of Art in Munich. He also studied philosophy at the University of Cologne and worked as a fashion lecturer for several years at the Fashion Institute in Düsseldorf. Otto Piene founded with Heinz Mack the group Zero, where later Gunther Uecker joined. He created his own unusual techniques to achieve stunning visual results. One of Otto Piene’s favorite techniques was to use stencil paintings on grids. In one series of paintings, he used the light from torches projected through the grids. In another, Otto Piene used different sources of fire, such as gas burners or candles, to add smoke to his work. Otto Piene did not limit his work to using only these techniques. Some of his pieces involved printing and he even experimented with both industrial design and kinetic sculpture performance. He designed a statue in the form of a mining lamp in 1999. The statue, called Das Geleucht, was on display in Germany until 2007.
ZERO was an art movement founded by Otto Piene and Heinz Mack, aiming to develop into a large international and cross-border movement. The name ZERO originated from a magazine founded by Heinz Mack in 1957, which became a platform for the group's ideas. The magazine was published for several years before ceasing in 1967. The ZERO movement sought to create a new beginning in art, emphasizing light, space, and movement, and became influential in post-war European art.