ECHOES OF RED – FROM POMPEII TO THE CANVAS

Sometimes, a color tells a story more profound than words ever could. In our recent exhibition in Berlin, one particular shade of red takes center stage – a hue deeply connected to history, emotion and artistic expression. 

The inspiration for this color traces back to a journey to Naples and a visit to the ancient city of Pompeii. Walking through its preserved ruins, the artist was struck by the presence of a red pigment, still vivid after nearly 2000 years.

The volcanic eruption that once destroyed this Roman civilization had, paradoxically protected its frescoes. This red was more than just a pigment – it carried a timeless resonance – earthy, rich and layered with history.

In the daylight this red seemed to breathe against the stone-gray ruins, glowing with an almost surreal intensity. It reflected the way paint interacts with canvas, how time alters texture yet preserves essence. This sensation stayed with the artist, ultimately inspiring one of the first paintings for the exhibition “Abstract Problems” in Berlin. 

The painting captures the same enigmatic depth that Pompeii’s walls revealed – adialogue between time, texture and the ever-present power of color.

Visitors are invited to experience this journey of red at the exhibition and share in its timeless story.

“… one day, I just went to Pompeii, which is a very well preserved village nearby Napoli,… And nearby this village, there was a volcano that erupted and killed the civilization. But it didn’t kill the paintings.”

“…this material that the volcano spilled, protected the houses and the architecture from that period. And I could really see the actual color that was painted in those ages in the current actuality.“

“On the walls there was this kind of red color from the Pompeii pigment, this kind of red, which could kind of be connected to blood. And it was completely, perfectly fit on this surface that was mixed by earth, earthy colors, stones, the gray facets of the architecture from there. I really admire how this red color felt in those spaces. “