Messensee – Beyond Contradictions

The wish to create more than just an image as a mere reflection, more than just art for its own sake: Jürgen Messensee is an artist with many facets, hence it is not always easy to categorise his oeuvre. This beautifully illustrated book about his recent paintings, drawings and sculptures shows the abstract artist in all his versatility and profundity. "I have always tried – at first instinctively, later consciously – to understand the evolving problem of space and spaces, respectively". These are the words of the prize-winning artist Jürgen Messensee (born 1936 in Vienna) who is firmly established within the Austrian contemporary art scene. Questions relating to our existence and to what we think to perceive as our existence are central to his artistic output. This volume includes not only his exploration of time and space but also, his interpretations and meditations on space and spaces. This book is an impressive glimpse at Jürgen Messensee’s philosophy and way of thinking.