Painter and sculptor Mike
Berg has created a body of work in the form of textiles. Currently living and working in Istanbul,
Turkey, Berg worked with master artisans to create these mostly large-scale recent
tapestries. These works reference
geometric abstract painting and are made from wool, goat hair, linen, cotton
thread and natural dyes. The natural
dyes used provide an array of unique neutralized color palettes of greys,
browns, greens, reds, purples, black and white. In combination with the wool and linen, nubby,
raised patterns and textures are visible within the geometric shapes. The
geometry within each wall work is not precise - rather they are wonky, curved
forms of squares, rectangles, triangles and hybrid angles. These irregular
shapes of varying sizes create movement,
and guide the eye in a seemingly never ending circle of engagement with each
work. Two of the works use ‘line’ to form the
geometric shapes – and these
lines are made of embroidered multi-colored cotton threads. Some of the works
appear more like rugs in their materials while others have a similarity to
paintings on unstretched linen. Berg’s textiles reflect the heart of a painter
who through the use of fabric, has revised the context of painting in an
intriguing way.
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| Mike Berg, Recent Textiles, MOCA, Downtown San Diego, installation |
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Kilim 3, According to a Set of Principles,
2013 natural dyed wool
Review by Cathy Breslaw www.artfullifebycathy.blogspot.com,www.cathybreslaw.com |
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