In 2019, Stefan Marx began his series of monotypes. In collaboration with Berlin-based screen printer Björn Wiede, he developed his own working method: Three individual images are created in three steps―one positive, one negative and the “ghost.” What initially fascinated him about this new approach was the bold application of paint and the intensity of the pigments. During the application of the paint, the surface of the picture itself is not touched— instead the image results from the manipulations on the silkscreen itself. Many of these Monotypes are typefaces― Marx’s signature wry sayings and quotations―but there are also figurative motifs, including animal drawings and other symbols from his pictorial inventory. This book follows on from the volume Schriftbilder / Type Works from 2020. Again, Marx has developed this book as an artists’ book, creating a fascinating interleaving between the final works and the design sketches from his notebooks.

Over the past 20 years, contemporary artist, skateboarder and illustrator STEFAN MARX (*1979 Schwalmstadt, Germany) has lent his unique handwriting to a variety of media: paper, canvas, porcelain and textiles. He publishes artists’ books and zines, designs record covers for various labels, and shows his work in international exhibitions, at art book fairs and galleries. Marx lives and works in Berlin.