Paul Bik

Bik's Milanese studio is a field of expressing his duality in character and way of working. Introvert by heart, he alienates himself in the quiet, elaborate and physically intense process of creating. His deep appreciation for craftsmanship led him to exploring conventional and creating original techniques. Working mostly with wood, cardboard, resin, plaster and paint and traditional tools, he balances between sculptures and paintings. All of the parts of his compositions are made by hand in semi-meditative, honest and time-consuming process. Searching for harmony in shapes, sizes and juxtaposing the elements reflects his perfectionist approach to detail but doesn't define his work. The finishing touches are always extrovert, imperfect and statement-like. Mathematical precision is distorted by intuitive expression: colorful accent, uneven layer of paint or imbalanced symmetry. The element of chaos brings out organic beauty, impossible to find in fully geometrical shapes.

Bik aims for the essence of harmony - not by repetition of forms but bringing the unity to, often opposed, parts of his compositions. Light and shadows, casted by geometrical shapes, add another element to the decomposition, beyond artist's control. Monochromatic and raw, the forms are far from cold. They allure with textures, giving a strong haptic, sensual impression. The compositions are always abstract. To Bik, this is the most personal form of art, a reflection of the artist's true self.

Find this artist and many more in our collection of works by Artists Working in Monochrome.