After-Images in Roland Schimmel’s Abstract Works

In his collection, Dutch artist Roland Schimmel presents a focus on optical anomalies produced by the human body’s response to certain visual input. Through paintings and animations created over the past two decades, he allows space for after-images, giving them a significant role. Schimmel’s perspective on the origin of this natural phenomenon is poignant: “I consider after-images as a reflection of my body’s yearning for its roots in light.”

Sophie Tates and Andreas Broeckmann elaborated on his work (in: cat. Deep Screen, Art in Digital Culture, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam 2008; text abbreviated by MK):
Schimmel meticulously crafts his abstract paintings (airbrush on canvas) and animations (computer-generated), emphasizing form and color in a way that evokes after-images, with dark and colorful dots punctuating the image, and vibrant hues in the background that often appear indistinct.
The visual impact is mesmerizing: the afterimage on the retina gliding over his artwork, not simply a representation, but an experience beyond the work itself. For a fleeting moment, the line between reality and projection blurs, and this perception is fleeting, as the image inevitably fades after a few seconds.
This body of work delves into the boundary between what is real and what is perceived. A quick glimpse at his art, a momentary closing of the eyes, and the complementary colors emerge on the retina, offering a glimpse into the untapped possibilities underlying every uttered word, every action, every choice: the complementary forms of existence itself.

www.ftn-books.com has one Schimmel title now available.