Technique
Christian Autzen deliberately focuses on the aging process of materials in his paintings. The oxidation of copper and iron in particular plays a central role and is enhanced by the targeted use of colors and surface structures. Gold serves as an unaltered center that brings shine and stability to the picture, while copper, patina, and rust reveal invisible layers of time. These three materials have accompanied humanity since the dawn of civilization and are still used extensively in culture and symbolism today: gold as an immutable precious metal, copper/patina as a weathered semi-precious metal, and iron/rust as a transient, transformable element.
“I never paint the whole picture.
I leave part of it to be painted.”
The process is controlled by a series of technical steps that greatly influence the result: the choice of metal alloys, the pre-treatment of the canvas, and the controlled application of oxidizing agents to initiate specific surface reactions. Multi-layered glazing techniques and evaporation effects create fine pore structures that interlock the paint and metal layers.
The process of paint oxidation reflects the themes of transience, memory, and preservation.
In addition, the texture can be enhanced by adding additives such as sand, marble powder, natural pigments, or metal particles, so that matte and glossy areas appear in a coherent field of tension. The interplay of oxidation colors, gold leaf, and metallic layers creates a synesthetic experience of aging that establishes both proximity and distance to cultural memories.
The visual appeal lies in the unpredictable interplay of the elements, which constantly evolves during the creative process. Each work carries its own history of reactions resulting from the respective environmental context, materials, and techniques used. This creates a visual world in which the theme of time is made visible and the viewer is invited to reflect on transience, value, and transformation.