Keyworks selection Friedrich Zettl
keyworks zettl: This page presents key works that show Friedrich Zettl’s artistic development, and thus provide a better understanding of the artist’s development. At the beginning of his career, some works were based on surrealism, soon followed by phases in which the main focus was on impressionism and expressionism.
The big turning point came during the years in China as Zettl’s intensive involvement with traditional Chinese ink painting influenced his later work. He achieved this through research (dissertation on Chinese painting) and practice (studying at the Central Academy in Beijing).
2020 marks another turning point as abstract painting, combined with earlier experiences and theories from Chinese art, calligraphy, and the art of seal carving, became the center of artistic creation.
The newest artwork is on top of the list
bursting sea
A scene for the opera project “The Magic Sea“.
The Magic Sea Opera Project
This project is about the implementation of an idea to create opera as a total work of art in which the performers are replaced by visual representation and are tied into an optical narrative thread by AI.
dream weaver
a step further in the integration of surrealistic aspects in abstract painting.
the essence of dao
In addition to understanding nature and its principles, Daoism is about relating so-called opposites such as light::dark, dynamic::statics, concrete::abstract, yin::yang, etc., or the representation of the true self of the represented object.
zen moment
“zen moment” is an abstract painting with different inks on yupo paper.
More on Zen moments
river deep mind high
“river deep mind high” is an abstract painting with different inks on yupo paper.
down by the sea
mixed media on paper
sheet from a series that deals with my “metaverse” conception
corona and the sea
mixed media on paper
sheet from a series that deals with the unconscious and sheet from a series that deals with the covid-19
landscape in corona mode (II)
mixed media on paper
sheet from a series that deals with the covid-19
composition in red and black
mixed media on paper
sheet from a series that deals with Chinese calligraphy
abstract landscape
ink and pastels on handmade paper
earlier engagement with surrealism and cubism are reflected in a new light. part of a triptych introduced HERE
keywork of series gestural abstraction
This series combines the earliest experiences with surrealism, later with expressionism, and, above all, techniques from Chinese calligraphy.
Mao poems on antique prints
In this series, ancient western prints, documents, and other ephemera are overwritten with poems or quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong.
overpainted calligraphy
In this series, old Chinese poems or other texts are calligraphed over and over again.
VIDEO with calligraphy by Zettl
withered leaves and blossoms
In this series, in which dried flowers and leaves are used, the main aim is to process the principles of Chinese painting.
VIDEO with similar bookmarks
just another death
Series of portraits of Chinese people under the aspect of memento mori
lying girl
A Series of drawings were made with a charcoal pencil in a dark studio and with eyes closed.
Portrait of a Musician
The newly developed style in landscape painting was also used for portraits and ended in a series of some 20 works.
running kids
Oil pastels on canvas. Chinese children “running away from the Cultural Revolution”.
dreamscapes
Series of landscape paintings with dreamlike representations.
Traditional Chinese Landscape
Of course, every painter, whether in the West or in China, has to develop his own style sooner or later. However, to understand Chinese painting, it is essential to copy the old masters in painting and calligraphy. Above all, to become familiar with the technique and composition of the important painters.
Running Horses
Larger picture on canvas, mixed media
Portrait of a Chinese Peasant
This portrait of a Chinese farmer was made in Beijing in 1981. I had already worked a lot with Chinese painting techniques and tried to integrate them into western graphics.
VIDEO with portraits by Zettl
Portrait of Nanette
Larger oil painting with a portrait of Nanette, a friend’s daughter. Painted in our studio where Falco started his solo career. Related article: Where Stars were born.
Passers-by watch football in a shop window
In 1978, certainly strongly influenced by the painter Georg Eisler, Zettl began to do graphics using oil pastels.
This image shows people watching a soccer game in front of a shop, selling television sets.
State of the art 1976
One of my first self-portraits. The plan was to paint a self-portrait every year and to name the series “State of the Art”
Saint Maria della Salute in Venice
This graphic is from a series of works created in Venice in 1976. They are sketches with ink and reed pen on paper.
Title lost
Collage with snippets from old prints, mostly around 1900. A series of lithographs were made from this collage. Edition of 90 pieces.
Not only was the title forgotten, but the entire edition was also lost. (2-3 sheets still exist).
Some of the artwork now is listed at saatchi gallery others at artmajeur
Blog posts on these and similar topics are posted regularly on https://zettl.blog/journals/