Omoge 2020

Eckart Hahn created Omoge using oil on canvas, masterfully simulating the appearance of coiled rope. This isn't simply a still life; it's an illusion demanding close attention. Hahn coaxes us to consider the material properties of rope: its texture, weight, and the way it can be manipulated and bound. The artist painstakingly recreates every twist and turn of the rope, building up the form of a face. The artist engages with a historical tradition of trompe l'oeil painting, but pushes it to new limits. What does it mean to invest so much labor into depicting such a humble material? Rope is after all a product of industry, a tool used for labor and transport, and a signifier of wealth. Hahn highlights this cultural significance by transforming an everyday object into an object of art. Ultimately, Hahn encourages us to reconsider our assumptions about fine art and craft. He demonstrates that any material, no matter how ordinary, can be elevated to the realm of art through skilled manipulation and thoughtful consideration.