At the bend of the river 2020

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this work with ink on paper, and though these materials are simple, the effect is remarkable. The ink is applied in deft strokes, some so light that they almost disappear into the paper, others pooling into dark, saturated masses. Consider how the artist has used the inherent fluidity of ink to suggest the movement of water, the texture of foliage, and the overall dynamism of a river landscape. The brushstrokes are not just representational, but expressive, conveying a sense of spontaneity and immediacy. This technique draws on traditions of East Asian calligraphy and painting, where the control and release of the brush are crucial. But the way Krupa deploys the ink also resonates with modern abstraction, where the material qualities of the medium are celebrated in their own right. It is in this meeting of traditions, that the artist finds a fresh approach to landscape.