Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible.”
(Paul Klee, Creative Credo, 1920)
[An exhibition that delves into all the questions that encountering the work of these two artists has always evoked in me, expanding my fascination rather than appeasing the search for answers.]
The creative mechanisms of Daniel Mattar and Lode Laperre reflect a deep dive into the intersection of traditional techniques and Eastern philosophies, resulting in works that dissolve the boundaries between the traditional and the contemporary. By their very nature, these works invite a contemplative experience as well as a reflection on impermanence, the beauty of transience, and the complexity of materiality.
The Ephemeral as Gesture
In the 1990s, in Tokyo, Daniel Mattar began his photographic research, a period in which his interest in Buddhism and Japanese calligraphy significantly influenced his artistic journey. His practice integrates elements of both photography and painting, incorporating pictorial gestures and large-scale photographic records, creating a dialogue between precision and visual impact.
Mattar delves into the study of the relationship between the physical and the metaphysical. His interventions on surfaces reveal a constant dialogue between the ephemeral and the permanent, between manual gesture and the capture of an image. In overlapping layers, graphic and natural elements evoke urbanity and social dynamics. Echoes of mural interventions in public spaces are easily identifiable in some of his works, where the memory of interaction with the environment leads the observer into a profound engagement.
Transience as a Manifestation of Form
After his travels to the East, Lode Laperre materialized his focus on detail, embracing the natural flow of things—an essential characteristic of Eastern philosophy and way of being. This method requires a balance between control and spontaneity, aligning with the Taoist concept of Wu Wei, the principle of letting things happen. With each approach to the canvas, new layers and meanings emerge, and each controlled fissure becomes a symbol of transience and the beauty of imperfection.
An analysis of Laperre’s working process reveals a stance of selective intervention, restricting action to crucial moments, allowing the process to evolve organically. This approach, though requiring meticulous and prolonged methodology, results in more natural and effective outcomes.His path is both intuitive and rigorous. Each intervention occurs only when necessary, respecting the natural unfolding of the work. However, the apparent simplicity of this approach conceals a meticulous investigative method, allowing the artwork to evolve in an almost organic manner.
Time, Tranquility
Lode Laperre and Daniel Mattar incorporate traditional techniques and Eastern knowledge into their works, creating pieces that reflect on impermanence, recycling, and the beauty found in transience— an invitation to the observer for a contemplative and introspective experience.
Laperre, in particular, explores the notion of transience by using a process of controlled fissures in his paintings, creating a visual metaphor for impermanence. His research is thus a quest for ways to integrate painting traditions with the natural flow of things, allowing the work to evolve in an almost organic manner, where control and intuition intertwine. In other instances, reverberations of techniques from the Japanese Tebori hand-tattooing method or Tibetan Thangka painting merge with his conceptual vision.
Control and Spontaneity
The ongoing research and experimentation in the creative processes of these two artists echo the idea that art is a field of inquiry where techniques and concepts intertwine—not only exploring the limits of materials but also delving into the philosophical and sensory dimensions of their practices. Technical experimentation and the dialogue between the traditional and the contemporary serve, for both, as reflections on impermanence, transience, and the impact of art on the observer. Both approaches are rooted in conceptual research that calls upon materiality.
Although distinct in their origins and themes, their practices are united by a common thread: the pursuit of expanding the boundaries of contemporary art, exploring traditional techniques through an innovative lens.
Rui Guerreiro, 2025
