Bode Gallery
www.bode-galerie.de
Gutleutstraße 16
60329 Frankfurt am Main
Rubica by Streng
Rubica von Streng, born in Berlin in 1992, first studied at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe under Ernst Caramelle from 2012 before continuing her studies at the Berlin University of the Arts in 2014. In 2018, she completed her master's degree as a master student of Mark Lammert at the Berlin University of the Arts.
In her artistic work, Rubica von Streng focuses on the processes of change and transition—the ruptures, developments, and transitional states that shape both individual life paths and social dynamics. Her works oscillate between a precise analysis of the present and visionary sketches of possible futures. Themes such as ecological responsibility, transience, conflict, and permanent change are central to her work. Time and again, she creates visual worlds that make it possible to experience the in-between: between life and death, nature and humanity, the visible and the invisible.
The works of the Berlin-based artist open up a space for free association and invite the viewer to pause and reflect. Her forward-looking perspective is clearly evident when she addresses issues such as the climate crisis, human conflicts, and their impact on the natural environment—without, however, descending into dystopian visions. Instead, Rubica von Streng envisions possibilities for respectful coexistence. Delicate, almost translucent organic forms are reminiscent of plant or animal structures without being clearly identifiable. Light, partly glazed, partly opaque layers of color create an atmosphere that seems dreamlike yet remains familiar. For the artist, these are plausible views and prospects of future worlds.
To develop these unique pictorial spaces, von Streng has created her own technique, which she calls the arpeggio painting technique. In this technique, she layers fine layers of oil paint on top of each other so that each layer retains its independence while also entering into direct relationship with the layers below. This multi-layered approach creates a special depth in the two-dimensional pictorial space. The individual layers appear both autonomous and interrelated, forming a harmonious whole that carries the dynamism of her pictorial worlds.
