99 Variationen eines Vulkans
Julian Charrière has released a new artist's book titled "After the Smoke Cradle," documenting a series of 99 lithographs originally exhibited at the Verein für Originalgraphik in Zurich. The project features 33 variations of three different volcanoes, created using a unique process where the artist transformed collected lava, ash, obsidian, and sulfur into printing pigments. This material-focused approach ensures that the physical essence of the volcanic sites is literally embedded into the photographic imagery.
By utilizing lithography—traditionally a stone-based printing technique—Charrière places himself in the lineage of artists like Hokusai and Cézanne who obsessively documented singular geological landmarks. The work serves as a philosophical exploration of the Earth's volatile nature, suggesting that the volcanic is not a distant phenomenon but the fundamental, shifting foundation of our existence. The release coincides with Charrière's major solo exhibition at Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, further cementing his reputation for blending environmental science with contemporary art.