Friedrich Zettl

Music and Painting

Music plays a significant role in my artistic process, alongside the philosophical concepts of Daoism and Zen Buddhism that deeply influence my work. While the music I listen to while painting can set the tone for a piece, it is often the underlying structure and ideas within the music that shape my creative expression.

Johann Sebastian Bach holds a special place in my heart, and his work has a profound influence on my painting. I find particular inspiration in Glenn Gould's interpretation of Bach. Gould’s approach—deconstructing Bach’s compositions, meticulously exploring their individual parts, and then reassembling them—parallels my own process in visual art. This idea of breaking down and reconstructing elements resonates with the way I approach my brushwork and composition.

Bach's influence on my art [offer]

Another strong influence on my art is the contemporary composer Arvo Pärt. His minimalist, deeply spiritual music often inspires me to explore visual translations of his work. One piece that has particularly influenced me is Pärt’s "Spiegel im Spiegel" (Mirror in the Mirror). The simplicity and repetition in the music mirror the meditative nature of my creative process, and I have worked to visually capture the emotional depth of his compositions.

Arvo Pärt "Mirror in the Mirror" [offer]

Brian Eno and his ambient music have also shaped my artistic journey. His album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" serves as a direct source of inspiration, with its innovative use of sound layering influencing the textures and layers in my paintings. The concept of ambient music—creating an atmosphere rather than a linear progression—reflects my approach to creating art that invites contemplation and immersion.

Brian Eno and David Byrne "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" [offer]

Music, for me, is not merely a background element but a conceptual tool that informs the rhythm, structure, and emotional tone of my work. Through this interplay between sound and visual art, I seek to create pieces that evoke a deeper connection and meditative experience for the viewer.

Recent exhibitions

After participating in exhibitions in London (Boomer Gallery) at the beginning of May 2024 and Sao Paolo (Imaginarium Exhibition) 25 May - 08 June 2024, another gallery shows 7 works by me, metaspace gallery. This is an online exhibition called “Silence”.

Boomer Gallery, 150 Tooley Street, SE1 2TUMay 10th – 15th Exhibition title: “The Dark Side”.

Artly Mix - Rua Pelotas - Vila Mariana, São Paulo - State of São Paulo, Brazil05/25 – 06/18 Exhibition title: Imaginarium Exhibition https://www.artlymix.com

Metaspacegallery https://metaspacegallery.com 

Started May 25th 2024 ongoing. Exhibition title: Silence

All three galleries did a great job.

New Work Added: Zen in Calligraphy

I’m pleased to introduce Zen in Calligraphy, a new piece from my Painted Calligraphy series. This unique art form, which I developed, involves repeatedly writing Chinese texts—often poems—until a structure and vision gradually emerge. The work is the result of meticulously crafted calligraphy, combined with confident brushwork and ink techniques, where the subtle use of gray tones plays a key role.

This piece was created using hand-ground Chinese ink, allowing for the delicate interplay of fine gray tones. The result is an additional layer where the lightest grays merge seamlessly with the deepest blacks, adding depth and dimension to the work.

Throughout the calligraphy process, the focus was on remaining contemplative, avoiding any conceptual pursuit. The textures emerged naturally, reflecting the meditative approach. The short video provides insight into the creation of Zen in Calligraphy, showcasing each stage of the process and highlighting the final details.

youtube-video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw16qu6aWcA

Video Featuring My Artwork for Bacopa Publishing

I’m excited to share that Bacopa Publishing has released a video showcasing my paintings of the underwater world. This video presents a collection of works I’ve been dedicated to for the past three years, exploring various aspects of the sea and diving through abstract and semi-abstract approaches.

Many of these pieces are deeply influenced by Asian philosophy, which plays a central role in my artistic process.

To fully enjoy the details of the artwork, I recommend watching the video on a PC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTLPQKPnMS4

Black Zen. Today, I would like to present a work that is part of a series called “painted calligraphy”. 

These contemporary works are inspired by traditional Chinese calligraphy and are philosophically influenced by the ideas of Zen Buddhism and Daoism. 

In these works, old texts, mostly poems, are written over one another again and again in different ways to create a texture with artistic appeal or a poetic touch. Each character is written with the greatest care, and the rhythm is maintained to ensure the highest quality. Although the finished product may appear monotonous at first glance, it reveals secrets and invites you to meditate. Through disciplined precision when writing each individual character, an overall picture is created that is characterized by harmony, even if the work could initially be perceived as chaotic.

The Daoist aspect primarily involves playing with the opposites yin and yang. This achieves a result in which silence and noise are present at the same time as dynamism and calm, big and small or chaos and order. 

Music plays an important role in the creation of these works. In this specific case, the work was performed to music by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

This short video shows how the work was created [youtube-video]

About Zen Moments

Among the categories of Friedrich Zettl’s works on Artmajeur, Zen Moments hold particular significance.

Zen Landscape

Zen Philosophy and Art

Zen, a philosophy rooted in mindfulness and living in the present moment, originated in China and later profoundly influenced Japanese culture. Often associated with meditation and mindfulness practices, Zen helps individuals achieve inner peace and tranquility. This philosophy also extends into the realm of art, particularly painting.

Zen Moment

Zen in Painting

Zen has had a lasting impact on Japanese painting, inspiring styles that emphasize simplicity, minimalism, and presence. Zen paintings are typically created using brush and ink, aiming to capture the essence of the subject rather than its detailed physical appearance. Common subjects include landscapes, animals, and elements of the natural world.

A Sound in the Silence 

On the eve of Halloween 2023 I put together a short. It seems a bit dystopian, but that may have something to do with the globally tense times.

youtube-video

All portraits shown are based on 2 original works from the mid-1980s. They were recreated with graphic programs, one of which is AI-supported, and do justice to their new task of addressing Halloween.

Just as the living and the dead meet on Halloween evening, the graphics also show very realistic, lively elements and at the same time the destructive, ending thing - death.

Of course, it's fun that shouldn't be taken more seriously than Halloween itself.

Welcome to My Art Blog on Artmajeur!

I’m excited to welcome you to my blog here on Artmajeur, where I will share insights into my artistic journey and the philosophy behind my work. For the past three years, I’ve been showcasing my art online, primarily through my main blog at [zettl.blog](https://zettl.blog). I focus on exploring the connection between Asian painting, especially Chinese, and its philosophical roots. I aim to bring a similar depth to this platform, shedding light on both the artistic and technical aspects of Asian art, so you can better appreciate the works I offer.

In the Videos section, additional material complements my artwork, providing a deeper understanding of the process and thought behind each piece.

My Artistic Journey

I began painting in the late 1970s, initially influenced by surrealism and later by expressionism. In 1976, I started studying Sinology, alongside ethnology and art history. In 1979, after overcoming some initial challenges, I had the unique opportunity to study at the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, becoming the first European to do so after the Cultural Revolution. During my time there, I studied painting, calligraphy, and the art of seal carving, eventually writing my dissertation on Chinese freehand painting, a style deeply rooted in Daoist philosophy.

This form of painting can be seen as applied philosophy, with concepts like yin-yang playing a central role in shaping Chinese art. Though terms like "Zen" and "Tao" are often used loosely, I strive to present a traditional perspective, one that has remained unchanged for over a thousand years.

Through this blog, I will delve into the philosophical and technical aspects of my works, offering a deeper look into how these timeless ideas influence my art. If you ever have questions, feel free to reach out—I'm always happy to discuss these topics further.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoy exploring my work!
Warm regards,

Friedrich Zettl

Friedrich Zettl with HE Ambassador Qi Mei.