Gained by Translation

Lukas Salzmann’s paintings call for precise language to fully grasp both their creation and the artist’s core focus—the theme of the image itself. Often starting with media images found in magazines, these are either left as they are or combined into new compositions before being pasted onto the canvas as a foundation. From there, his painting evolves, interpreting the motif through layers of color and form, where deviations are not just allowed but embraced. Traces of these initial images remain visible, and the canvas size often mirrors that of a magazine page. In his serial works, this creates a sense of “flipping through pages,” nodding to the original photographic sources.

On larger canvases, Salzmann faces new challenges. The spatial composition becomes more significant and takes on a scenographic quality. While the motif is transformed, it stays connected to its source. This approach highlights the interplay between visual recognition and visual understanding, blending them seamlessly. Salzmann’s mostly figurative works possess a theatrical quality, where figures seem to act and display emotion. His atmospheric style emerges from a nuanced technique: precise brushwork, spontaneous color application, and varying degrees of detail. This combination creates a sensory richness that extends beyond the visual, engaging multiple senses. Ultimately, his painting practice reflects a process of translating and evolving the original motif into something new.