Brennende Mann (Burning Man) 1989

Michael Morgner made this artwork of mixed media on paper with heavy use of browns, blacks, whites, and grays. Imagine being Morgner, layering these gestural marks, building the composition through trial and error. It feels like he’s scraping away and adding to the surface simultaneously. What kind of conversation was he having with the work? The texture is really interesting, thick in some places and thin in others. I wonder, what’s that central form with the white maze-like lines? Perhaps it's a burning man in effigy, or an archeological dig site? I can feel a sense of urgency in the marks, but also of careful planning. Morgner was part of the East German art scene, and his work often explores themes of alienation and social critique. He probably felt trapped. Painters are always in dialogue with each other, riffing off ideas across time. This piece reminds me of the expressionist paintings of the early 20th century. Ultimately, painting is about embracing ambiguity, allowing for multiple readings and interpretations.