Helmut Stromsky

Bezeichnung, 2010

The work of the sculptor and draughtsman Helmut Stromsky has developed since the 1960s with a particular affinity to Modern Architecture, connected to this is the fact, that the concept of ‘basic architectural pattern’ touches upon the core of Helmut Stromsky’s pictorial and spatial thinking: analysis of the space-defining elements of wall, floor and ceiling are the center from which his sculptures, drawings, photographs, architecture-sculptures and works for public spaces develop. In order to articulate his understanding of space even more precisely and to define it more sharply in his artistic activity, Helmut Stromsky takes the path from nature via the ordering of culturally and architecturally designed spaces to ordering spaces in artistic terms. Circa 1967/68, the artist began to work with so-called ‘Halbzeug’ (‘semimanufactured products’)—materials for industrial construction that are utilized as the basis for minimalistic constructions and are characterized by the opposition of function and antifunctionality. Here, we see Stromsky’s key concept of conversion in action: a shape is, so to speak, translated into a contrary shape. Also in his parallel developed paper objects the viewer can follow the conversion of the material to sculptural form through the pressure of the drawing hand. The two-dimensional drawing is converted to a serial sculpture in space.