In The Endless Knot, German artist Cengiz Hartmann reinterprets a symbol central to Buddhist and Tibetan philosophy, a form representing continuity, interdependence, and the cyclical nature of existence.
Formed from casted clay and wire, the work embodies Hartmann’s approach of reducing objects to their essentials without losing their poetry. The knot, often rendered in precious or decorative materials, appears here in fragile, earthly matter. This deliberate choice lends the symbol a quiet gravity: it is not abstract or distant, but rather tactile, grounded, susceptible to time.
Central to Hartmann’s practice is the German word “Begreifen”, meaning both to touch and to understand. This dual meaning reflects a way of thinking with the hands, where form becomes a means of inquiry. In this work, the endless knot is not only symbolic; it is shaped and held- an idea made material.
Material: Casted clay and oxidised wire
Dimensions: 33 x 38 cm each tile
Additional information: one of a kind similar artwork available upon request