Birds in the clouds 1993

Alfred Freddy Krupa created this work, Birds in the clouds, using Sumi-ink on paper. Krupa, born in Croatia in 1971, is known for his commitment to traditional ink painting, a practice rooted in East Asian art. Through the lens of identity and cultural context, this piece invites us to consider the artist's position as a European artist engaging with Asian artistic traditions. The minimalist aesthetic and the monochrome palette are reminiscent of Zen Buddhist art, which often seeks to capture the essence of a subject with the fewest possible strokes. How does the artist re-interpret the tradition? "The 'here and now' is a synthesis of the entirety of nature," Krupa has said of his art making. Consider the emotional aspect of this work. The birds, rendered with quick, fluid strokes, evoke a sense of freedom and movement. They contrast with the heavier, more static forms below, perhaps representing clouds or land. This contrast invites reflection on the tension between freedom and constraint, movement and stillness.