Spring Break
Graphite drawings on display at Tarble
Josh Van Dyke/Staff reporter
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: The Verge
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Artist Armin Mersmann seeks to go beyond even photographs in retention of details with his graphite drawings, meticulously latching onto details that would be lost in mere photos and mixing in symbolism.
The results of his efforts, which have been shown in more than 150 exhibits regionally, nationally and internationally, can now be seen on Eastern's campus. The Tarble Arts Center will be presenting his work until March 5.
"A lot of people draw like poets. I draw like a novelist," said Mersmann, 53, who currently lives in Midland, Mich.
With each of his drawings he seeks to tell a story, to give the viewer an insight into the subject's life as well as to illustrate a message about the world. Like great novels, drawing pictures that capture every detail of a person's face takes much effort to get right.
To ensure accuracy, Mersmann combines modern technology with old-fashioned meticulousness. The latter takes the form of photographs from different angles, studying the subject in person and looking at his own face in a mirror to practice.
Mersmann, like many of his contemporaries, uses programs like Photoshop to not only bring out the details in images but also to try out different combinations of backgrounds and ways of drawing the subject.
He can see how changing the shape of the eye or ear affects the faithfulness of the drawing to the overall image.The final product, however, is done by hand.
"When he tells you that he spent about 600 hours on a drawing, he really worked 600 hours," says Chris Kahler, an associate professor of art at Eastern. "In recent years we haven't really had anybody that's that obsessive of a realist."
The paintings aren't all about realism, however. Within each work is also symbolism; the people portrayed are actors playing a role.
One portrait has his father dressed as a priest, clutching a figure of Christ on a crucifix with ambiguous intentions and a mix of emotions on his face. Another features a man who seems to fit the "tough biker" cliché but has a kind look in his eyes and angelic wings, with the title "Occasional Angel."
One theme that Mersmann returns to, beside the hidden nature of people, is mortality and the reality that in time, nature will reclaim all things.
Inspired at least in part by the death of his mother, Mersmann returns over and over to those ideas, presenting them in images that are heavy in metaphor and consistently feature decomposition of some sort.
Like many artists, he has no interest in explaining the meaning of his more abstract works, preferring to let the viewer decide for themselves. He does, however, acknowledge that they aren't the most cheerful subjects.
"When you think about that, it's not going to be pretty flowers or skipping in a field," he said.
Mersmann was born in Remscheid, Germany in 1955 and immigrated with his family to America in 1963.
After marrying at the age of 18 and doing commissioned work for several years he is now the Manager of the Museum Art School of the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art in Midland, Mich.
More of his work can be viewed at his personal Web site, arminmersmann.artroof.com
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