Irma Blank (b. 1934, Celle, Germany)

Irma Blank’s works are, in and of themselves, meditations.  She describes her pieces as “written” artworks, in which she scrawls in loops and lines over and over again on her paper—unreadable nonsense to the viewer, but a meditation for the artist.  The practice is almost trancelike, allowing the artist to break from her surroundings and enter into a purely artistic state.  Her pieces are a record of the movements of her body—not only the artist’s hand, but her breathing, and thus, in essence, her liveliness.  Upon beginning each series of strokes in a compilation, she holds a deep breath, giving herself complete control over her hand, which might otherwise be swayed in a minute way by the movement of her lungs.

Despite the strict control Blank exerts over her movements, she intentionally chooses a writing implement that allows for some variation.  Though the ballpoint pen allows for a uniform width of line, the density of her marks varies greatly, and leaves a unique impression upon each page she touches.  While her works show the precision and control that can be exerted by the human body, they are impacted by the uncontrollability of outside forces—in this case, the artist’s medium itself.

Repetitive markings in blue and pink inks characterize Blank’s work, and color becomes an important facet of her individuality.  To Blank, the Yves Klein-like blue used in these works symbolizes the sky, and thus infinity and utopia; the pink represents analysis and identification.  Though these are the main colors in Blank’s work, graphite at times makes an appearance as a “non-color,” an inactivity, in her work.

Blank was born in Germany in 1934, and has been living in Italy since the 1960’s.  She was featured in the 2001 and 2017 Venice Biennales, Documenta 6 in 1977.

SF