Mikael Takacs is a marbler based in Sweden.
He uses pipettes to distribute acrylic paint across the canvas to create his subjects, which he then distorts by dragging the paint around using various tools, such as sticks and combs. He combines the classic abstract expression of marbling with concrete figures. This results in intricate razorsharp patterns swirling across the canvas as you look at it up close, which then takes the form of a portrait as you take a few steps back. Even though the patterns in themselves are very sharp they can make the figure look blurry or fuzzy, which can have a somewhat anonymyzing effect. This can make it both easier and harder to connect with them. Itâs harder in the sense that you canât really see who it is, or maybe even what it is. It may be easier to connect with them for basically the same reason, as you can project so much of your own thoughts onto someone you can just barely see. The vivid and abstract is in contrast to the vague and figurative.
Variations of this technique has been around for hundreds of years, but in spite of that, his pieces are often mistaken for digital art. Marbling is said to originate in the 12th century Japan as "Suminagashi", and centuries later made it's way to Europe through the Ottoman Empire and the "Ebru" method.
