LEIF KATH
Born 1945, Haderslev, Denmark
Leif Kath.
Image courtesy of Gitte Kath.
Leif Kath approaches the surface of his artworks with deliberate precision, starting with lines that meander across the paper. At the heart of his compositions lies a careful interplay of lines, shapes, and colours. His primary concern is the surface itself and the endless possibilities for variation within it. Through a process of methodical refinement, Kath explores new ways to manipulate the flat surface, revealing a work process that balances addition and subtraction until the final image emerges; sharp, exact, and clean.
His work gravitates toward a geometric visual language, where forms, lines, and planes contain all meaning. There are no narratives or external references in Kath’s art, only the formal qualities and the internal dynamics of the image itself.
In the 1970s, Kath’s art took a decisive turn away from figurative representation and began focusing on the structural elements of image-making. He dissolved photographic forms, shifting from a focus on "what" is depicted to an exploration of "how" an image is constructed. This inquiry into the nature of visual representation became a defining aspect of his further practice, one that he continues to pursue with rigor today.
Through minimal gestures, Kath delves into fundamental oppositions; positive versus negative space, light versus dark, and the contrast between organic and geometric forms.
As his artistic practice evolved, Kath expanded beyond graphic art, embracing various media including sculpture, painting, photography, and printmaking. Despite this shift into different forms, his central artistic concerns remained consistent. His move into multiple media reflects a broader trend in contemporary art, which, beginning in the 1960s, saw artists breaking free from the constraints of singular mediums. Kath recognized that no one medium could fully express the complexity of artistic exploration, and his body of work continues to grow and diversify through numerous exhibitions, both in Denmark and abroad.
Kath’s abstract, non-representational work is rooted in the pursuit of geometric clarity, with a focus on line, colour, and form. His deep engagement with the principles of artists like Malevich and Mondrian distinguishes him in the contemporary art scene. In some of his pieces, the empty spaces (the white areas framed by clean, precise lines) become the central subject. These voids suggest a sense of potential, representing the endless creative possibilities within the artwork.
Through his persistent investigation of abstraction, and his use of a broad range of materials, Leif Kath has established himself as a lasting and important figure in global art scene.
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