A series of images following one from the other.
Eine aufeinander folgende Reihe von Bildern, 2018
Photo © Jeff McLane. Courtesy greengrassi, London.
See Silke Otto-Knapp’s unusual watercolour technique to depict figures in motion in her multi-panel painting
Like much of Otto-Knapp’s work, A series of images following one from the other. Eine aufeinander folgende Reihe von Bildern 2018 makes frequent reference to ballet and modern dance. Two of the panels are based on the 1923 Ballets Russes production of Russian composer Igor Stravinsky’s Les Noces, with choreography by Polish dancer Bronislava Nijinska.
Another panel relates to the movements and poses in American choreographer Yvonne Rainer’s performance Continuous Project Altered Daily 1969. The figures who seem to clap above their heads were inspired by the British choreographer Michael Clark, which was performed at Tate Modern in 2011. Otto-Knapp was one of those who took part in the open rehearsals in the Turbine Hall. The images of dancers are separated by what she calls illustrations of ‘everyday movements’ such as walking, standing or resting.
Otto-Knapp has developed a unique style of watercolour painting. She paints forms and figures by applying layers of watercolour paint to a canvas and then carefully washes them away. The pigment from the paint floats on the surface. Otto-Knapp moves the separated pigment so it settles in other areas of the canvas. As she repeats the process, layers build up, creating a dark background. The outline of her erased images gradually emerges in contrast to this background. Otto-Knapp then uses brushes, sponges or her fingers to control the variation between light and dark, defining the figures more clearly.
Despite looking as though it was painted with multiple shades of black and white paint, this work was made using a single watercolour pigment called lampblack. Otto-Knapp has compared the effect of washed-out lampblack to ‘printer ink or charcoal.’
Petrit Halilaj, Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (dark pink) 2017
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? 2017 is an installation that consists of six large sculptures that take the form of colourful fabric moths. Each sculpture consists of a steel and brass armature on which two fabric wings made from antique Kosovar rugs have been fixed and from which emerge two long polyester fabric tails. The giant fabric insects’ bodies measure over two metres with their shimmering tails extending a further two metres in length. The insects’ heads are made from Flokati handmade shag-pile rug from which protrude antennae made from Chenille wire. The moths are referred to by the overall title Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? and are differentiated individually by a colour description. In light green (Tate T15458), the body of the moth is made from a finely woven Dyshek carpet bearing a small, repeating green diamond pattern, bordered by weaved stripes of yellow, blue and red dyed wool; the tail is turquoise. The moth dark pink (Tate T15459), is also formed using antique Dyshek carpet with a dark red diamond weave, bordered by black Chenille wire, with black brush-like antennae and a shiny red tail. There are two pairs of moths which are always displayed together as pairs and installed near to flickering light-bulbs: they are grey and warm yellow (Tate T15460); and light yellow and warm violet (Tate T15461). The moths grey and warm yellow are both made from antique Qilim (or Kilim) rugs: the former is primarily blue and red with a repeated decorative flower-like geometric patterning in blue, green and pale blue; the latter has a red ground with a repeating dark-blue motif. The grey moth is lined with a silky silvery-cloth and has grey furry antennae. The warm yellow insect’s dark red and blue body contrasts with a bright yellow textile tail. Light yellow and warm violet are made respectively from biege Qilim carpet with repeated brown abstract motifs and a bright yellow tail; and a solid cream antique Jan rug with a rich violet-coloured tail and orange fuzzy antennae. Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? was commissioned for the exhibition Viva Arte Viva at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and installed in the Arsenale; here a total of eighteen moths were displayed, suspended from the ceiling and walls, with their long fabric tails trailing onto the floor, and one work placed directly on the floor. The moths can be presented together or in smaller paired groupings. In total the artist has made twenty-three moths. A number of these were included in his solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles from September 2018 to January 2019.
1/4
artworks in Silke Otto Knapp
Petrit Halilaj, Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (light green) 2017
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? 2017 is an installation that consists of six large sculptures that take the form of colourful fabric moths. Each sculpture consists of a steel and brass armature on which two fabric wings made from antique Kosovar rugs have been fixed and from which emerge two long polyester fabric tails. The giant fabric insects’ bodies measure over two metres with their shimmering tails extending a further two metres in length. The insects’ heads are made from Flokati handmade shag-pile rug from which protrude antennae made from Chenille wire. The moths are referred to by the overall title Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? and are differentiated individually by a colour description. In light green (Tate T15458), the body of the moth is made from a finely woven Dyshek carpet bearing a small, repeating green diamond pattern, bordered by weaved stripes of yellow, blue and red dyed wool; the tail is turquoise. The moth dark pink (Tate T15459), is also formed using antique Dyshek carpet with a dark red diamond weave, bordered by black Chenille wire, with black brush-like antennae and a shiny red tail. There are two pairs of moths which are always displayed together as pairs and installed near to flickering light-bulbs: they are grey and warm yellow (Tate T15460); and light yellow and warm violet (Tate T15461). The moths grey and warm yellow are both made from antique Qilim (or Kilim) rugs: the former is primarily blue and red with a repeated decorative flower-like geometric patterning in blue, green and pale blue; the latter has a red ground with a repeating dark-blue motif. The grey moth is lined with a silky silvery-cloth and has grey furry antennae. The warm yellow insect’s dark red and blue body contrasts with a bright yellow textile tail. Light yellow and warm violet are made respectively from biege Qilim carpet with repeated brown abstract motifs and a bright yellow tail; and a solid cream antique Jan rug with a rich violet-coloured tail and orange fuzzy antennae. Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? was commissioned for the exhibition Viva Arte Viva at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and installed in the Arsenale; here a total of eighteen moths were displayed, suspended from the ceiling and walls, with their long fabric tails trailing onto the floor, and one work placed directly on the floor. The moths can be presented together or in smaller paired groupings. In total the artist has made twenty-three moths. A number of these were included in his solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles from September 2018 to January 2019.
2/4
artworks in Silke Otto Knapp
Petrit Halilaj, Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (grey and warm yellow) 2017
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? 2017 is an installation that consists of six large sculptures that take the form of colourful fabric moths. Each sculpture consists of a steel and brass armature on which two fabric wings made from antique Kosovar rugs have been fixed and from which emerge two long polyester fabric tails. The giant fabric insects’ bodies measure over two metres with their shimmering tails extending a further two metres in length. The insects’ heads are made from Flokati handmade shag-pile rug from which protrude antennae made from Chenille wire. The moths are referred to by the overall title Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? and are differentiated individually by a colour description. In light green (Tate T15458), the body of the moth is made from a finely woven Dyshek carpet bearing a small, repeating green diamond pattern, bordered by weaved stripes of yellow, blue and red dyed wool; the tail is turquoise. The moth dark pink (Tate T15459), is also formed using antique Dyshek carpet with a dark red diamond weave, bordered by black Chenille wire, with black brush-like antennae and a shiny red tail. There are two pairs of moths which are always displayed together as pairs and installed near to flickering light-bulbs: they are grey and warm yellow (Tate T15460); and light yellow and warm violet (Tate T15461). The moths grey and warm yellow are both made from antique Qilim (or Kilim) rugs: the former is primarily blue and red with a repeated decorative flower-like geometric patterning in blue, green and pale blue; the latter has a red ground with a repeating dark-blue motif. The grey moth is lined with a silky silvery-cloth and has grey furry antennae. The warm yellow insect’s dark red and blue body contrasts with a bright yellow textile tail. Light yellow and warm violet are made respectively from biege Qilim carpet with repeated brown abstract motifs and a bright yellow tail; and a solid cream antique Jan rug with a rich violet-coloured tail and orange fuzzy antennae. Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? was commissioned for the exhibition Viva Arte Viva at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and installed in the Arsenale; here a total of eighteen moths were displayed, suspended from the ceiling and walls, with their long fabric tails trailing onto the floor, and one work placed directly on the floor. The moths can be presented together or in smaller paired groupings. In total the artist has made twenty-three moths. A number of these were included in his solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles from September 2018 to January 2019.
3/4
artworks in Silke Otto Knapp
Petrit Halilaj, Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (light yellow and warm violet) 2017
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? 2017 is an installation that consists of six large sculptures that take the form of colourful fabric moths. Each sculpture consists of a steel and brass armature on which two fabric wings made from antique Kosovar rugs have been fixed and from which emerge two long polyester fabric tails. The giant fabric insects’ bodies measure over two metres with their shimmering tails extending a further two metres in length. The insects’ heads are made from Flokati handmade shag-pile rug from which protrude antennae made from Chenille wire. The moths are referred to by the overall title Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? and are differentiated individually by a colour description. In light green (Tate T15458), the body of the moth is made from a finely woven Dyshek carpet bearing a small, repeating green diamond pattern, bordered by weaved stripes of yellow, blue and red dyed wool; the tail is turquoise. The moth dark pink (Tate T15459), is also formed using antique Dyshek carpet with a dark red diamond weave, bordered by black Chenille wire, with black brush-like antennae and a shiny red tail. There are two pairs of moths which are always displayed together as pairs and installed near to flickering light-bulbs: they are grey and warm yellow (Tate T15460); and light yellow and warm violet (Tate T15461). The moths grey and warm yellow are both made from antique Qilim (or Kilim) rugs: the former is primarily blue and red with a repeated decorative flower-like geometric patterning in blue, green and pale blue; the latter has a red ground with a repeating dark-blue motif. The grey moth is lined with a silky silvery-cloth and has grey furry antennae. The warm yellow insect’s dark red and blue body contrasts with a bright yellow textile tail. Light yellow and warm violet are made respectively from biege Qilim carpet with repeated brown abstract motifs and a bright yellow tail; and a solid cream antique Jan rug with a rich violet-coloured tail and orange fuzzy antennae. Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? was commissioned for the exhibition Viva Arte Viva at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and installed in the Arsenale; here a total of eighteen moths were displayed, suspended from the ceiling and walls, with their long fabric tails trailing onto the floor, and one work placed directly on the floor. The moths can be presented together or in smaller paired groupings. In total the artist has made twenty-three moths. A number of these were included in his solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles from September 2018 to January 2019.
4/4
artworks in Silke Otto Knapp
Art in this room
Petrit Halilaj
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (dark pink)
2017
Petrit Halilaj
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (light green)
2017
Petrit Halilaj
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (grey and warm yellow)
2017
Petrit Halilaj
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (light yellow and warm violet)
2017
