Carsten Höller (b. 1961 in Brussels) creates
art that explores human behaviour, perception
and varying states of physical and emotional
consciousness. As a doctor of agricultural science,
his approach is driven by scientific curiosity,
shot through with a playful sense of humour.
Höller’s Divisions Square series rests on the simple
mathematical principle of division, as applied in
his own artistic practice. In this case it is a square
canvas that is divided vertically into two equal
halves. The right-hand half is then, in its turn, divided
in two again, and each new half again divided in
half following the same geometrical pattern. The
smaller the squares become, the lighter they are in
colour. The colour that Höller made use of here is
Veronese Green, a hue of considerable art-histo rical
import, which pales with each new division and
eventually all but vanishes. Like an optical illusion,
the geometrical playfulness has the effect of draw
ing the gaze deep into the canvas.
Höller has been accorded numerous solo exhibi
tions all over the world and this year his work
could be viewed here in Basel, too. Visitors to
the Fondation Beyeler’s Summer Exhibition were
able to give themselves over to art – and their
own dreams – in Höller’s Dream Hotel Room #1:
Dreaming of Flying with Flying Fly Agarics.
Caravaggio linen canvas, Flashe Vinyl paint
90 × 90 cm
Signed and dated Carsten Höller 2022 lower left
Copyright: Carsten Höller
Courtesy: Carsten Höller
Provenance: donated by the artist
