Stonbridge in Prizren 1 2007

Gazmend Freitag’s Stonbridge in Prizren 1 is a monochromatic reverie, born from ink or graphite, catching a moment in time. Gazmend is summoning atmosphere from just a few marks. I imagine him there, looking, scribbling, smudging, and building the image, bit by bit. I love the simple shapes and the way he sees the buildings almost like blocks. There is a kind of push and pull between a childlike directness and something more sophisticated in the handling of the light, especially on the bridge itself. Look how the lines aren’t too precious, but instead create a hazy kind of reality. The texture is achieved through simple hatching and cross-hatching, building a sense of depth without overdoing it. It reminds me of some of Morandi’s landscapes, where place becomes a vehicle for introspection. I imagine Gazmend thinking of a place he knows well, a place of memory and belonging. That’s what painting can do. It is a form of conversation across time, and with oneself.