Bernd Ribbeck

Bernd Ribbeck was born in Cologne in 1974 and now works and resides in Berlin. Ribbeck's latest work takes influence from 20th Century modernist church interiors and architecture, commenting that their pious nature compromises their ambition. He also takes influences from more abstracted associations to the divine such as casinos and their chorus of slot machines, and Hilma af Klint (link). He meticulously refines his paintings by increasing layers, scraping some back, building up more, then scratching more away, until the end result defies the viewer of being able to unravel the mystery of their construction. It's difficult to pick a favourite. (at Alison Jacques Gallery)