Carsten Beck

Composition Puzzle

2022

Danish artist Carsten Beck (born in 1986) lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. His paintings can be considered a Scandinavian minimalist expression translated onto oil on canvas. The artworks are a blend of geometric perspectives in shapes and figures with a mathematical attention to detail and high-quality materials. Beck’s background in printmaking and photography provides him with options to view different perspectives in his art, as he creates new geometric forms in a powerful and contradictory color combination. Beck’s greatest inspiration for creating his artwork comes from taking long walks to capture new perspectives and angles. He translates this inspiration into new sketches and ideas. Beck seeks to relate his work to mid-century art while also drawing inspiration from it. Additionally, one of his favorite architects is Alvar Aalto. His art doesn’t necessarily need to represent or reflect anything beyond being a painting, as sometimes things don’t have to make sense or represent something concrete. It’s really about composition, as well as the balance between black and white; from the layers of colors to the placement of figures. Symmetrical and asymmetrical aspects need to be spot-on from the start. There is a challenge in making simplicity appear interesting, and Beck enjoys pushing himself in this regard. Therefore, Carsten Beck is constantly looking back to rework and redefine old concepts and ideas. This way, he can create new content. The major difference is that he has found his path in concrete art and has begun to explore it.