ARTIST

Karin Zielinski

Painter and studio owner in Colmar for over 20 years, I explore material, surfaces, and natural colors. Influenced by De Staël, Soulages, Rothko, Richter, and Poliakoff, my work is inspired by Wabi-Sabi and its philosophy of imperfection and impermanence, which lies at the heart of my visual language, notably through my collages and rugs.

IN PRAISE OF TIME
For over 20 years, painting has been at the heart of my life. It is a space for exploration and balance.
As an abstract painter, I have always been immersed in minimalism, texture, surfaces, and colors. Over the years, my practice has become more refined, focusing on the essential.
I discovered the world of wabi-sabi while grappling with fundamental questions about my life. This aesthetic movement resonated deeply with my own inner quest.
The simplicity and imperfections of wabi-sabi represent a perfect balance; like this imperfect object placed there in this almost empty room, where shadow and light restore its inherent nobility.
My work revolves around this understated Japanese aesthetic that celebrates the beauty of simple, imperfect, and impermanent things, without striving for perfection, simply welcoming what comes.
With my textile collages, I like to create pictorial spaces that invite contemplation, where almost nothing and emptiness convey a powerful emotion. The unexpected is also an integral part of the process, echoing the fragility of the world.
I have a deep respect for the materials that the Earth offers us. For the creation of my rugs, nettle was the obvious choice. Plant-based dyes only accentuate this natural and imperfect patina, which only Nature can give us.
My world is rooted in an aesthetic of simplicity and slowness. Wabi-sabi is not just a “theme,” it is also a philosophy of life.