In his recent creations, artist Mauri Gross is engaged with robust and vibrant thickets, using this subject to explore a balance between apparent monotony and intricate details. He has opted to refrain from using photographic or other visual materials to keep his mind clear, allowing his inner vision to form organically without distraction from text or images. For him, this practice has a mathematical quality: starting from a blank canvas, each brush stroke represents a numerical progression of creativity that transforms a pure idea into something new.

Gross reflects on his vision developed before the pandemic, which was focused on painting realistic thickets in large formats, reminding him of childhood memories associated with types of thickets like willow and alder. The artist expresses a sense of urgency in capturing these landscapes, especially as certain species threaten to overtake entire areas. This tension raises the question of whether depicting such invasive species is a futile effort—whether capturing it on canvas can translate the imagined vision successfully into reality.

Through his exploration, Gross emphasizes the importance of a state of being that a true artist requires: a vision and a sum of experiences that collectively coalesce into a singular artistic statement. He likens this process to great screenplay writing, where the freedom from mere photographic representation allows the experience itself to become the vision, offering viewers an opportunity to engage deeply with the artwork and to see beyond the surface.