‘Membrane Art® is a doorway to endless possibilities. It’s heavily dependent upon the geometric surface which underpins it, and until it’s unraveled, we are blind to all possible outcomes.’
As the child of a profoundly deaf father and a mother who is both deaf and blind, I have chosen to embrace a unique artistic path. Despite my ability to see, I intentionally limit my visual input while creating art. This approach allows me to paint on curved structures, engaging in a blind process that reveals unexpected outcomes and complete aesthetic images. Through this journey, I learn to accept results that may not conform to traditional standards of beauty, as they resonate with my identity and reflect my upbringing. This practice embodies my relationship with the world around me.
I refer to this body of work as Membrane Art, which explores the enigmatic boundary between the present and the future. From the tension inherent in a curved surface to the tranquillity of a flat plane, it invites us on a transformative, non-linear journey, encouraging deeper contemplation and meditation on our observations
Membrane Art is characterised by the use of surface curvature to initiate artistic events. By applying distinct expressions and reciprocal marks from various angles, I create effects unattainable on a flat canvas. Yet, the final presentations are always in a two-dimensional format, symbolising our observational limitations.
Since 2004, I’ve been evolving this aesthetic thought. A style of abstraction that is deeply rooted in the contemporary understanding of a multi-dimensional universe and the essence of nature itself.
This website is dedicated to sharing my exploration of this ‘aesthetic thought’.
MembraneArt principle: from curvature, to flat
The curved condition means that the applied markings will reflect the geometric profile. The aesthetic therefore appears when they are unraveled and stretched out to the two-dimensional picture plane. Because of this, the realisation is that formulations are produced that require the addition of a curve in order to be considered plausible. Hence, I refer to this approach as Membrane Art – as it is the curved profile of the surfaces that underpins the development of each artwork. An aesthetic thought that I continue to evolve.
Often marks that result from a curled-up space is out of ones line of sight. As a result, producing art in this manner is more of an instinct than a conscious decision. However, more importantly, it is for me, a way to re-imagine nature — entangled in the void of spacetime.
My discovery of the “reciprocating holes” in 2014 elevated the concept to another level. That’s the foundation of my most recent series on copper. Using copper surfaces as a means of providing the initial ‘aesthetic thought’, from curvature to flat, with renewed sense of permanence and purpose.
Malcolm Koch CV 2024 (10MB file)
