The concept of “Anima Mundi” (“World Soul”) originates from ancient philosophy and is the name given to a mediating instance between the earthly and the spiritual world. This series of paintings by Imi Knoebel is intended to refer to the tense relationship between spirit and matter: the stringent, strictly geometric formal scheme attains a sensuous vibrancy with its playful alternation of colors and the discernable brushstroke on the painting surface. Four narrow strips frame a colorful
vertical rectangle in the center, which is reminiscent of Knoebel’s earlier Grace Kelly series. The artist first tests his composition using small paper models and then transfers it to aluminum with acrylic paint. The color palette is thus almost unlimited and provides for the most diverse color combinations. The unrestrained playthrough of constant and variable pictorial elements in serial production is one of Imi Knoebel’s fundamental design principles.
The same group of works also includes: Anima Mundi 81-3 Ed. (2013) and Anima Mundi 2-5 (2013).
