When Julius Kerscher (born in Munich, 1982) starts to talk, one realizes quickly how natural the connection between mathematics as an inspiration and his artistic work is. Already in the first semester of his mathematical studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, from which he successfully earned his degree, Kerscher started to record the information heard in lectures and seen on the board in sketches.
According to his academic background, Julius Kerscher’s artwork is inspired by and related to abstract objects such as mathematical proofs, number spaces, symbolic patterns. Visualizations of abstract ideas emerging during (mathematical) studies are depicted with e.g. pencils, markers, oil bars, charcoal on paper.
Often, canvases and oil bars are used (analogously to conventional board and chalk) for a certain time for sketches and calculations as well – before on these layers of sketches the actual painting process is started.
In many paintings, the technique of collage is applied to structure the surface for instance according to a logical pattern or the graphical representation of an argument/proof.
Such proof-sketches, as well as number spaces or symbolic patterns from different mathematical fields, form the starting point of his work. Those have such a deep fascination on him that they practically demand to be transformed into abstract paintings. In doing so, color for Kerscher has an essential meaning as an expression of intensive imagination, of the individual experience of mathematical thoughts.
Corresponding both in dimensions and gesture to the customary making of sketches with chalk on a chalkboard, Kerscher prefers to work with oil color and oil chalks on large-format canvas. This particular technique the artist, trained autodidactically, developed himself. The creation of a single painting often takes place over a period of more than one year, as he continues to develop his ideas on the canvas and applies numerous layers of color onto the base, which creates an intriguing effect of depth when looking on the art works.
Exhibitions and acquisitions:
29.4. – 23.6.2004: „Mathematik und Malerei“, single exhibition at Munich Technical University
27.4. – 1.6.2005: „Faszination Mathematik: Abstrakte Strukturen in Malerei und Mathematik“, single exhibition at the European Patent Office (Munich and Den Haag)
2006 – ongoing: permanent exhibition at the Supreme Bavarian Audit Court (Oberster Bayerischen Rechnungshof, Munchen)
17.3 – 17.6.2011 The exhibition
{S|P (S)}. Colorful mindscapes.
in the Art & Space Gallery
Mathematics has an extensiveness, in fact it is a whole universe full of lively ideas.«
