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 colour 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 colour and thought, in which colour can be perceived in its spatial, temporal, and performative contexts. Kaapke’s exploration of ceramic red led her to develop a standardised chromatic spectrum, resulting in a visually arranged, tactile colour archive comprising almost 10,000 shades of ceramic red and an accompanying database, also to be published. Redspace is not just a standardised 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 colour.
Text in English and German.
