“Ah, Breval, la Diagonale, c’est le Diable” Richard-Paul Lohse (1) told me one day (Ah, Breval, the Diagonal, it’s the Devil). I can still remember it was in July 1979 in Austria… I can’t remember what he meant but at least I guessed this damned diagonal might have been giving him a lot of problems!
From the Greek dia, across, and gônia, angle, the diagonal means the lop-sided way; it is the alternative, thumbing its nose at the politically correct verticality and horizontality. Finding diagonal close to devil in the dictionary doesn’t happen by chance!
A large part of my works is using diagonals as a raw element for highlighting shapes or objects discrepancies which would not have been noticeable at first glance.
Two 50 and 49 cm squares may look identical… just put the first square’s diagonal into the other and it will bend significantly! Can’t miss it! Manage then to make it fit well in the square: depending on the material, bend it, make a knot or cut and paste it. (un peu diffèrent du FR mais on conserve cette rédaction)
As we use to say: The devil is in the detail!
What does the Devil think about it? Just ask him!
I’m delighted to see that not only this work still survives after more than 30 years but it has become fully part of the urban furniture of the city.
All my heartfelt thanks go to the Hofbieber citizens and the rebellious blooming weeds that kindly add some unexpected eco-poetry to my rigid diagonals.