Urs Burki’s works on paper form a vital part of his artistic legacy, revealing an immediacy and physicality that run through his entire practice. Long before he adopted canvas as his primary support in 1980, paper offered him a direct, agile surface on which to explore gesture, movement, and experimentation. Often working in a state of heightened concentration — at times almost trance-like — Urs Burki engaged his whole body in the act of mark-making. His works on paper encompass a wide range of materials, including ink, charcoal, acrylic, oil, plant extracts, and mixed media, reflecting his instinctive and exploratory approach. Across hundreds of sheets, he created drawings, paintings, and collages that testify to his relentless search for expression and his desire for unfiltered spontaneity.