Rhodes Contemporary Art

FRAGA

A NEW SERIES OF WORKS
BY THOMAS STEMPEL

We're delighted to introduce a new series of original works by German artist Thomas Stempel. Created in his signature style of ink on paper, this series of smaller works invite the viewer into his recent trip to Florida and the visual creativity he found there.

Taking inspiration from the shapes of Art Deco Architecture and palm trees, Stempel found himself in a completely new environment to his native Germany. Spending prolonged periods of time in the gardens of Miami and Hollywood, Florida, Stempel found particular inspiration in the Licuala Gradis palm tree, with its huge fan shaped leaves and their perfect graphic patterns. The series of works is titled ‘FRAGA’ after ‘Franks Garden’, where Stempel discovered the trees. The series will eventually grow to a total of 42 works, to match the 42 trees in the garden.

Created with the repeated and continuous movement of drawing, moving a compass around the paper, Stempel’s abstract works are calming and considered. Taking their time to shift over the paper, they offer the viewer a moment of contemplation.