Bend of the Kupa river near "Kvaka" 1997

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this work, Bend of the Kupa river near "Kvaka", using ink on paper. The lines wander and spread across the page, giving the impression of a landscape emerging from a memory. I love the way the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, it gives a real sense of immediacy, like he was trying to capture a fleeting moment. The artist really embraces the materiality of the ink, allowing it to pool and drip in places, creating these lovely dark accents that contrast with the more delicate lines. Take a look at the way he's rendered the trees, they're almost like clouds, these big, billowy forms that seem to float above the horizon. It reminds me of some of the landscape drawings of the Qing Dynasty artist, Shitao, in that the artist is trying to capture the essence of a place, rather than a literal representation. Art is like an ongoing conversation, and Krupa is adding his own unique voice to that conversation.