In Shading Shapes, Kristof Montens transforms wood into a living surface of motion and light. Meticulously carved linear grooves create a rhythmic flow that recalls natural forces wind over dunes, currents through water, or organic cellular structures. The surface is enhanced by a luminous gradient palette, shifting from violet to turquoise and green, which alters with changing light and perspective. At once sculptural and painterly, the work explores how material, form, and color can merge to evoke both physical tactility and optical vibration.

Shading Shapes was born from a profound dialogue with nature. At The Core, we believe that art carries a responsibility: not only to inspire but also to spark awareness of the fragile beauty of our natural world.

In this series, the chainsaw is typically seen as a destructive tool, even a weapon against trees is reimagined as a creative instrument. From wood that has already been cut down, the artist breathes new life into panels of recycled Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF), a contemporary material widely used in construction. Through this process, an act often associated with loss becomes a gesture of renewal.

Organic forms are carved into the panels, their rhythm echoing the patterns of nature. As light moves across the surfaces, the works reveal shifting shades and hidden layers of color. Depending on the viewer’s perspective—and the play of sunlight—each piece transforms, offering a dynamic experience much like the fleeting shimmer of light on bark or the glint of dew on grass.

Shading Shapes is therefore not only an exploration of form and color but also a poetic ode to nature: a reminder of its resilience, its fragility, and the wonder it evokes when we truly pause to look.

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My work is rooted in beauty, wonder, and the uplifting energy that art can bring. I explore themes of self-confidence and the healing power of nature, with the hope that my art inspires joy and amazement through its shapes and colors.

In creating something tangible, I place great importance on uniqueness and the meaning behind the act of creation itself. I enjoy playing with forms, structures, and hues, allowing each piece to develop its own rhythm and character. The grooves carved into my works can be seen as fingerprints—a recurring source of inspiration—symbolizing identity, individuality, and creativity. Kristof Montens

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