Waves, Arcs, and Fields – Aesthetic in Dialogue with Geometry and Abstraction
The works of the Melle-based artist Gwydion (Christian Grond) embody a captivating intersection between graphic art and painting, between concrete representation and geometric abstraction. His works, primarily realized as acrylic paintings on canvas or delicate pen drawings, reveal a constant pursuit of harmony, inspired by the abstract-geometric aesthetics of the classical modern period, particularly the visionary imagery of Wassily Kandinsky.
In Gwydion’s visual language, a strict two-dimensionality predominates, reminiscent of painted mosaics. Through transparent layers of color, multifaceted structures emerge, exploring various levels of logical and artistic abstraction. The background serves not only as a visual backdrop but as an integral part of the composition: geometric patterns and self-similar structures create a stage-like effect in which the foreground and background dynamically merge. Boundaries are intentionally broken – the interaction between the elements of the image forms a field of tension that guides the viewer’s gaze while simultaneously stimulating reflection.
A hallmark of Gwydion's works is the absence of a middle ground, creating a striking contrast. While the floating objects in the foreground stand out with sharp outlines and vivid colors, the background presents a more diffuse, abstracted structure. This opposition generates movement: the viewer’s gaze is led by lines and shapes, sometimes channeled, at other times accelerated, as if following a rhythmic dance across the canvas.
The range of his compositions spans from figurative representations—such as the mythologically inspired "Great Goddess"—to abstract elements like interfering wave lines, circles, or ornamentally reminiscent geometries. Gwydion draws upon a conceptual approach shaped by the structural realism of modern natural sciences: limited "aesthetic image quanta" are recombined and set into varying relationships. Thus, each composition remains unique and authentic, much like human identity, which, despite constant physical renewal, remains unmistakable.
Thematic Focuses: • Aesthetics as a source of joy, inspiration, and inner balance. • The Goddess as a symbol of creative power, love, and passion. • The vulnerability of the individual as the basis for ethics and humanism. • Social critique and reflection on current issues. • Epistemology and the connection between art and science. • Quasi-ornamental surface compositions. • The boat as a universal metaphor for individual life. • Self-irony and playful lightness as expressions of freedom.
Through the synthesis of aesthetic rigor and intellectual depth, Gwydion’s art connects elements of classical modernism with a contemporary, intellectually grounded visual language. His works invite the viewer to discover beauty in the geometric and experience a deeper resonance between form, color, and meaning.
Artist Biography
Gwydion, born Christian Grond on December 11, 1968, in Melle, graduated from high school in 1989 and went on to study biology, earning a degree as a Diplom-Biologist. Already during his studies, he began working as a freelance artist and musician in 1992. Since 1998, he has also taught biology, mathematics, and IT—an area of work that profoundly shapes his scientifically conceptual approach to art.
Selected Exhibitions
International exhibitions:
2011 La Seyne sur Mer, France
2012 Toulon , France
2025 Adelaide, Australia
Exhibitions in Melle
2012 Sutmöller bookstore, Buer cultural workshop e.V.
2013 Island of the Arts, half-timbered house-1775
2014 Old Post Office
2015 Volksbank Melle
2016 Island of the Arts
2017 “a village becomes art” arts festival in Melle-Suttorf
2019 “a village becomes art” arts festival in Melle-Suttorf
2020 Virtual exhibition in the "Alte Posthalterei", Melle
2021 Exhibition at the "Meller Kunstgang"
2022 "a village becomes art" - Arts Festival in Melle-Suttorf
2023 "indispensable" Alte Posthalterei, Meller Kunstgang
2023 Art in the church, Catholic St. Bartholomäus Melle-Wellingholzhausen
2024 "Crossover", exhibition by the Meller Art Association
2024 "a village becomes art" - Arts Festival in Melle-Suttorf
2025 Art in the church, ev.-luth. Paulusgemeinde Melle
Exhibitions in Germany
2015 Neuro-Center in Brackwede
2016 Neighborhood meeting place in Kornblumenweg in BI – Windflöte
2016 GSWG-Senne, new administrative headquarters in Tulpenweg in BI – Windflöte
2017 Atrium in the district building, Herford
2018 Marien-Hospital, Dortmund-Hombruch
2019 Galerie Lakämper / freiraum237, Bielefeld
2019 Galerie Kaffeebar, Bielefeld
2022 Exhibition in the traffic office Kirchlengern
2025 Daruper Landpartie, Darup Nottuln