Wille Schenk’s YAMA

Schenk’s analysis of the realization that the extent of urban destruction and human suffering of the post-war period could no longer be represented by the conventional means of representational expression resulted in a way of detaching oneself from representational representation and de-construction to get one’s own representational graphics into the non-representational. Thus, in 1948, two portfolios – YAMA 1 and YAMA 2 – with 6 leaves each, were first produced, linocuts on handmade paper, which appear as non-figurative rhythmically articulated line and surface structures.

There are a total of 72 sheets for the YAMA plant complex (WV 530 to WV 612). There is also a film (on DVD, about 15min), which presents this work complex and meticulously documents its creation.

Examples from the folders

 

Wille Schenk continued to experiment with the prints he made. He mitigated their severity and brought in colors; he used them for new collages.