Mikael Takacs is an artist based in Stockholm, Sweden. He combines the classic abstract expression of marbling with concrete figures. This results in intricate razorsharp patterns swirling across the canvas as you look at it up close, which then takes the form of a portrait as you take a few steps back. The vivid and abstract is in contrast to the vague and figurative.
Variations of this technique has been around for hundreds of years, but in spite of that, his pieces are often mistaken for digital art. Marbling is said to originate in the 12th century Japan as “Suminagashi”, and centuries later made it’s way to Europe through the Ottoman Empire and the “Ebru” method. He has participated on numerous exhibitions and art fairs and he is represented by Galerie Wolfsen in Denmark, Corey Helford Gallery in USA and Galleri Ramfjord in Norway.
“I find that the half abstract nature of my portraits makes it both easier and harder to connect with them. It’s harder in the sense that you can’t really see who it is, or maybe even what it is. It may be easier to connect with them for basically the same reason, as you can project so much of your own thoughts onto someone you can just barely see.”
