Endless Possibilities: Geometric Abstraction
The UBS Lounge at Art Basel in Basel 2025 features works in the UBS Art Collection by international artists who engage with geometric abstraction.
Helmut Federle explores spirituality and symbolism in his abstract work, which centers around relationships between figure and ground, structure and intuition and movement and stillness. The starting points for these compositions are often his initials, H and F, stylized elements of Asian calligraphy and geometric forms. The reference to the artist’s own name is not autobiographically motivated but rather an expression of personal experiences.
Federle’s influences span time and transcend cultural boundaries. His travels to Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Tibet and Latin America, where he was exposed to the artistic traditions of these different cultures, impacted his practice. The title of Vietnam Painting (1982) evokes associations with conflict, history and cultural memory. Rather than depicting specific events, Federle translates relevant themes into a visual language of tension and balance. The cross motif, a recurring element in his work, serves both as a compositional framework and a symbolic gesture—perhaps alluding to divisions, resilience or the weight of remembrance.