Introduction
When Theo van Doesburg (1883–1931) formulated his manifestos for concrete and elemental expression in the 1920s, he was reacting against the unnecessary. His aim was to strip away sentiment and arbitrariness in order to arrive at a universal visual logic. Art did not need to imitate the world; it could exist as a world of its own, constructed from its own fundamental elements.
TriQuadPenta (TQP) shares this point of departure, but without the ambition of proposing a new manifesto. Where van Doesburg sought to redefine art through a radical programme, TQP explores how a simple and consistent system can still function as a tool for artistic development. The system is limited to three geometric forms—the triangle, the square and the pentagon—and investigates the compositional possibilities that emerge within this framework.
One may reasonably ask why there is still a need for this kind of conceptual system today.
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The answer lies in the visual reality that surrounds us. We live in an age of endless digital imagery, where almost anything is possible. Paradoxically, unlimited freedom of choice can make it more difficult to make conscious choices.
Here, a simple rule-based system functions as a deliberate counterpoint. By restricting the possibilities to a few geometric principles—and, in some cases, code-based methods—a different kind of freedom emerges. The limitation is not an end in itself, but a tool for exploring composition, relationships and variation with greater precision.
Mikael Madsen 2025
[TriQuadPenta] [ARTWORK] [GENERATED] [RANDOM]
No title - Mikael Madsen 2025
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TriQuadPenta is an ongoing artistic investigation.
It unfolds through exhibitions, publications, and visual experiments within the field of geometric abstraction.
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