Redspace - Lena Kaapke

For Lena Kaapke, ceramic red is the starting point for her artistic exploration. The different properties, processes, applications, and biographies of this red are examined in a variety of installations, contesting the traditional definition of color and calling for a fresh approach to it within the field of ceramics. When seen collectively, the works create connections that open up a sensuous space for color and thought, in which color can be perceived in its spatial, temporal, and performative contexts. Kaapke’s exploration of ceramic red led her to develop a standardized chromatic spectrum, resulting in a visually arranged, tactile color archive comprising almost 10,000 shades of ceramic red and an accompanying database, also to be published. Redspace is not just a standardized spectrum but also an inquiry—and, as such, a one-off. As a three-dimensional entity, Redspace is a reflection of the artist’s praxis, one which invites the reader to experience the multilayered expressive potential of a unique ceramic color.

Text in English and German.