Art Talk #31 – Geometry, Color, and Meaning - Olshbau

Art Talk #31 – Geometry, Color, and Meaning

Why do we feel calm looking at a blue square? Why does a red triangle seem to demand attention? In this edition of Art Talk, we explore the hidden language of geometry and color—how they shape perception, evoke emotion, and serve as the backbone of every Olshbau piece.

This isn’t just theory. It’s the heart of our practice.

 

The Shape of Meaning

Geometry, at first glance, might seem cold—circles, squares, triangles, lines. But in art, shapes speak volumes.

  • A circle often conveys continuity, unity, softness.

  • A square anchors the composition. It gives the viewer a sense of control, order.

  • A triangle introduces tension. Its angles can point, divide, or direct your gaze.

Wassily Kandinsky once wrote, “The circle is the most peaceful shape, the triangle the most aggressive.” At Olshbau, we play with these forces deliberately. A triangle slicing into a serene backdrop? That’s tension. A softened square inside a loud red field? That’s resistance and retreat. Each geometric choice adds a psychological weight to the piece.

 

Color as Emotion in Motion

Color is never just color. It’s memory, mood, energy.

  • Red excites, agitates, commands.

  • Blue cools, soothes, opens space.

  • Yellow catches the eye, sparks play.

  • Black and white set boundaries, offer pause.

In our process, we often start with a cardboard composition—basic, raw, minimal. Then comes color. The same form painted in cobalt blue can whisper, while in scarlet, it shouts. We use acrylic paint, layer by layer, sometimes dry-brushed for texture, sometimes poured or scraped.

Our pieces are not painted on the form. They are painted into it.

 

The Bauhaus Connection

Our approach owes a debt to the Bauhaus. Paul Klee taught that “color and line are not merely tools but active agents in the construction of meaning.” Moholy-Nagy pushed this further, saying that geometry and color were the grammar of visual language.

At Olshbau, we try to extend that grammar into a new vocabulary—part sculpture, part color study, part emotional map. We build in plywood, cardboard, and paper. It’s intentionally modest. The material may be humble, but the ideas are not.

 

Why It Matters

In a world full of noise and clutter, our pieces try to do the opposite—they offer concentration. A single circle. A field of yellow. A tension between two shapes that won’t quite settle.

What we create isn’t decorative. It’s deliberate.

So next time you look at one of our works, ask yourself—not what is it? but why does it make me feel this way?

That’s the power of geometry and color in the hands of an artist. And that’s the essence of Olshbau.

 

Explore More

Looking to add a bold, meaningful piece to your home or studio? Browse our latest 3D wall sculptures and discover the language of form and color for yourself.

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