Die Fremden Kreise 1963

Johannes Itten’s "Die Fremden Kreise" presents us with a seemingly simple grid, overlaid with intersecting circles that are drawn with precision. The circle, a universal symbol, has coursed through human consciousness since time immemorial. Consider its echoes in ancient sun worship, mandalas, or even the halo in religious iconography. Here, though, its presence is unsettling; its stark geometry clashes with the irregular grid, creating a sense of alienation, or estrangement. The circles appear ‘foreign’ indeed, a disruption of the familiar order. The grid itself, a symbol of structure, echoes the rational mind. However, Itten subverts this, rendering the squares imperfect, each bearing a unique hue. It's a constant play between order and chaos. This tension reminds us of the eternal struggle between the Apollonian and Dionysian forces within us. In "Die Fremden Kreise," the symbols we see reflect our collective memory, evolving in meaning, as they reappear throughout history.