The canary code series
This series of images is based on the artist's inspirational journey to four Canary Islands: Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and Lanzarote. The essence of these four Canary Islands is the invisible connection, the commonality, the universal foundation, the Canary Code.
The Canary Code is a play on words, a neologism derived from the term "binary code." The artist has translated and abstracted a wide variety of natural codes, analogous to man-made barcodes, into lines. The result is a series of paintings and sculptures that convey her visual experiences in a series-specific manner, always in search of abstraction, within the tension between minimalist simplification and informational richness. The line codes serve as abstract networks, as a representation of movement, and as a symbol of the search for explanation, for the essence of all the optical wonders. They were her constant companions on her journey through the islands.
She drew inspiration from the jumble of omnipresent pine needles and cactus spines, from the seemingly arrhythmic, chaotic repetition of the surf and gusts of wind, the play of light on the water's surface, the indefinable tangle of the banyan trees' aerial roots, from the colored layers in the rocks, from the organic patterns in the lava flows. Layers of rock contain geological strata millions of years old and present them in linear, color-coordinated codes.
The artist reflects contrasts in color and geometric value in her paintings, such as the geometric randomness of the pine needles in color contrast to the surrounding pyroclastic ash.
The trade wind is the origin of all codes in this series, the driving force, the source, the central theme. It is palpable, leaves its mark, yet remains invisible. Making it and its movement visible and tangible, abstracting it, was both a challenge and a motivation. The analogy between wind and lava flows is fascinating, the way they move seemingly effortlessly and unimpeded through the landscape. Its seemingly random code of rhythm and intensity, a natural mystery, gains presence in the works through its very arbitrariness.
The Canary Code --- An abstract journey into our perception, an explanatory approach to the inexplicable.
nalu series
In Hawaiian, Nalu means wave. This wave sets the reflection on the water's surface in motion, distorting it and thus abstracting the mirrored reality. This series of works is the result of an inspirational journey the artist undertook on three Hawaiian islands: Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. The fascination of experiencing, in a single day, towering volcanoes, lush rainforest, arid drylands, and the ocean—both above and below the surface—provided the impetus for this series. Each individual highlight, viewed in isolation, shines with an outward monotony yet an inner diversity. Carole Kohler translates the multifaceted Hawaiian reality into abstract elements and reflects this new, abstract reality against the illusion of a figurative water surface. In the Nalu series, she abstracts the real only to abstract it again in a figurative manner the next moment. In her abstract works, the artist expands purely visual impressions through the expressive rendering of the invisible, such as atmosphere, mood, and the integration of movement and dynamics. Experienced colors and forms do not appear unfiltered in the works, but are abstracted and translated expressionistically. Through reflection, she aims to capture a fleeting moment, a thought that captivated her on her journey of inspiration, only to release it—like a wave—and make room for new moments. Moving water allows one to find peace and relive past impressions. In her works, the artist shifts perspective, showing and reflecting her island experiences from the sea, as if from an outsider's point of view.
opposites series
stage series
On her path towards absolute abstraction, the artist has created a new milestone with the "Stage" series. Increasing reduction is a key element of the works in this series, which formally resemble a stage in an endless auditorium, where movement, sound, etc., are presented. It is a reduction that allows and permits expansion.
momentum series
The central theme of this series is momentum, the movement captured in the still structures of the image. These works are characterized by special techniques that the artist incorporates into her current works.
white water series
Inspired by the fascination of water, its reflections, its refraction, its depth, its width, its waves, its whitecaps, its calm and wildness, in liquid and frozen form, I have created a unique series that impresses with its extraordinary depth and complexity .
peek-a-dance series
In 2022 I created a series of images that are basically based on the elements of the Peek-a-boo series. The theme of hide-and-seek and camouflage inspired me. I have deposited the silhouette of a dancer in these images.
peek-a-boo series
This series plays with hide-and-seek, camouflage, the invisible
flashback series
I usually create abstract artworks. But my roots are in figurative painting, in photo-realistic charcoal portraits. For this series I did a personal flashback and mixed abstract planes with portraits of dancers.
rolling series
In this series, black and white tones come together in lively cooperation on the canvas. They mutually influence each other, mix, overlap in a rolling movement, so that a new, colorless colourfulness can emerge. Black and white motley. The two opposites attract, complement and at the same time repel each other.
raw series
This series is based on oriental desert motifs, patterns, tracks in the sand and the burning desert sun. It is inspired by a desert trek on camels through Morocco's Sahara. The pictures in this series are designed on raw canvas, which shimmers through in places with its desert-like coloring.
keyword series
This series is based on various key words that are essential for me, the keywords. I was inspired by these terms and drew on my wealth of travel impressions during the corona-related isolation. This is how special pictures were created that embody important artistic values for me and were created in a special situation. All of these keywords are abstract terms that I have also represented artistically in the works of this series in an abstract way.
signum series
The Signum series was created exclusively in 2020, in a small number, mostly in large-format images. Signum is inspired by abstract signs, signatures, calligraphy with characters primarily from East Asia. Not only the graphic expression of these signs is omnipresent, but also the movement, the rhythm and the verve that are necessary for writing.
nordic feeling series
The works in this series were created as part of my project NORDIC FEELING during the 2-month artist residency at the Kirsten Kjaer Museum in Frostrup, North Jutland, Denmark. The paintings are mainly inspired by the roughness of northern Denmark's beaches, the wild weather, the stormy sea, the cold gusts of wind, the screeching of seagulls. Abstract motifs of seaweed dancing in the current appear again and again in the pictures. A large part of this series is in medium-sized square formats, the minority in large format.
open air series
This series was designed for pressure use on large clamping walls. That is why it differs significantly from other paintings by this artist. So that these pictures can also be used in sections for the stretch ceiling print, she has largely dispensed with structuring lines and equipped the works more fluently and with smooth transitions. As the name already implies, these works are less tangible, powerfully moved and through semi-transparencies with a great layering and depth.
more series coming soon
This small series was created using a special technique with bitumen and acrylic. I play with the different solubilities of the two base materials. Due to the technique, these works show rather circular forms, which explains the series title of "Ranging a Wheel". Some of these works are also used for stretch ceiling printing and thus bear certain characteristics of the Open Air series, such as the majority of structuring lines being dispensed with. These works are also difficult to grasp, powerfully moved and, thanks to semi-transparencies, with great layering and depth. The cartwheel series is kept in large, exclusively landscape-format images.
miami river series
These works (limited series of originally 6 square images) were created especially for the Miami River Art Fair 2018 (Art Basel Miami Week). This series impresses with its spatial depth, light-shadow contrasts, strong dividing lines and soft, semi-transparent transitions. In this series, the artist used acrylic resin as a further stylistic element to make black surfaces even darker and more unfathomable and to be able to play with matt-gloss contrasts. Some of the works look as if they were wet.
reflections series
As the name already implies, this abstract series is about reflections, reflections, reflections, optical distortions. I applied my technical knowledge from my figurative time and created optical illusions in the works, which give the viewer the impression of points of light, shine, reflections and flickering in the air. I also used some acrylic resin to contrast the apparent reflection in the picture with a truly reflective surface. I used this stylistic element to make black areas even darker and more unfathomable and to be able to play with matt-gloss contrasts.
The aluminized series represents the artistic follow-up to the 8-month art residency in Provence (Prix de la Sarazzine 2015). These works were all created after the time in the south of France from the impressions and memories in the home studio in Switzerland. The special light of Provence was the focus of this series. I also tried to capture this light in a series of sculptures in highly polished aluminum. Illuminated - aluminized. This would also explain the sponsorship for the series name of the picture series.
aluminized series
provenance series
This series was created during the 8-month art residency in Provence as part of winning the "Prix de la Sarrazine" art prize, which I was allowed to complete in Lauris in 2015. These works embody the essence of Provence, which the artist experienced during this time and whose manifestation she has set herself as a project theme. The works in this extensive series implement the colors of Provence as well as the special light, the experiences of the time, and even the sounds and moods. Important information: I have granted image rights to some of these works as a license for art prints. The licensee may produce and sell large-format stretch walls and stretch ceilings.
