Working with the New Dripping painting technique may be described as the antithesis of Expressionist droplets spattering and dribbling in all directions. I have tried to create the opposite of the pronounced expressionist signature and personal painterly expression – that is, expressions capable of portraying the artist’s inner feelings and emotions.
In the case of New Dripping, the ability to foresee the characteristics of the dripping paint as well as the, to a certain extent, Zen preparation both precede the phase which is illustrative in classical painting: the phase in which the paint adheres to the canvas. At that moment, in the case of New Dripping, my artistic ego has no chance whatsoever of expressing itself. At that moment, the paint, trickling precisely, ‘goes to work’, confirming my beliefs and presumptions. The paint flows into places I have selected beforehand and crosses selected points on the canvas. I myself never touch the surface of the canvas with my hands; with the aid of droppers, I merely position the drops of paint at the upper border of the picture and then observe the paint’s behavior, adding or subtracting in intensity as required.
Sometimes, of course, errors arise in the predetermined trajectories; these, however, are important, which is why they are never corrected after the fact. Moments when an air bubble or a bit of grime crop up in a trickle of paint are congealed on the canvas and thus certain ‘poetic’ moments in which chance finds expression are seized.
Pictures and objects in which I have used the New Dripping technology have a marked Op art character. I try to create the most geometrical motifs possible, availing myself of painting techniques I cannot have completely under my control. That is why when you look at my paintings an interesting tension becomes apparent – you get the feeling you are looking at something you are already familiar with, although certain elements throw you off and then you realize that something does not jibe with your preconceived notions.
By means of the selection and combination of colours, the placement of bands and gridlines on the canvas, I create optical illusions. Nevertheless, the essence of New Dripping is, above all, a conceptual approach to painting which endeavours to implement several technical possibilities, physical laws and ideas regarding painting techniques and possible manners of depiction.
Evžen Šimera