Series Description: "A Fuzzy Function"

The series "A Fuzzy Function" emerges as a powerful artistic statement, articulated through the traditional medium of charcoal on canvas. The pristine white backgrounds are stripped of superfluous environments and surfaces, allowing observers to focus exclusively on the central representations: prone bodies that evoke the fragility of existence. It is discernible that these could be the bodies of infants; however, their intentionally blurred and indistinct presentation challenges any attempt at precise identification.

Each drawing presents itself as a meticulous study of form, with a special emphasis on the glazing technique, a method imbued with sensitivity and transience, akin to watercolor, despite being executed entirely in charcoal. This "blurry" effect is not merely aesthetic but serves a conceptual function: it acts as a mechanism to evoke emotions and critical reflections in the viewer.

The inspiration for this series stems from photographic material extracted from press coverage in 2016, the year when hundreds of children's bodies arrived in the Mediterranean Sea as a consequence of the migration crisis. Stahl does not seek recognition for the individuals portrayed; instead, the series challenges the contemporary trivialization of lifeless bodies, especially in a media-driven world where such images are often consumed without reflection. By deliberately relinquishing specific details and defined backgrounds, the artist invites viewers to confront their own reactions and question the broader implications of what they are witnessing.

This series, comprising a total of 20 drawings, spans various formats, from intimate ones measuring 80 x 120 cm to monumental pieces of 300 x 250 cm. Each drawing is meticulously mounted on 8.5 cm x 80 cm x 100 cm stretchers, ensuring not only its durability but also its physical presence in any exhibition space.

Technical information

Title: A Fuzzy Function.

Technique: Charcoal on canvas.

Dimensions: Various, ranging from 80 x 120 cm to 300 x 250 cm.

Mounting: Stretchers of 8.5 cm x 80 cm x 100 cm.

Description: Series of drawings depicting prone bodies on white backgrounds, devoid of a defined environment or surface. The pieces evoke a sense of blur and transience. Inspired by news photographs, the drawings challenge the media trivialization of death and the ephemeral.

Year: 2016