Erwin Thomasse's practice navigates the intersection of material experimentation, social critique, and emotional depth. Themes of destruction, regeneration, and mental health are at the heart of his multifaceted work. Rooted in his experience of public urban spaces, the artist draws from the materials and gestures of protest and resistance found in those environments. His pieces often embody a tension between destruction and creation, challenging traditional painterly techniques. In a recent series like 'Impulse Control and Composure' and 'Constellation (Fallen Stars) II', Thomasse reflects on both personal and contemporary social anxieties in visually impactful and conceptually layered ways. In 'Discord', a series of works on mirrored glass, the artist engages with notions like transparency, opacity, and the act of mark-making through chemical etching and coatings. Through this, he transfers the materiality of public space to works of art in innovative ways.
Extract of text by Xander Karskens, taken from the upcoming publication Impulse Control and Composure, to be released in December.