70 X 100 

Curator: So, here we have "70 X 100," a matter-painting by Jimmy Ortiz, seemingly executed in acrylic paint. Looking at this, what leaps out at you? Editor: Earth. Dust and memory. It's the kind of piece that makes me want to run my fingers across the surface and feel the history ingrained within the paint. Sort of like staring at the horizon. Curator: The materiality is really the key, isn't it? You have this palpable layering and the building up of textures. This use of, what is referred to as, matter-painting—emphasizes the physicality of the artwork, collapsing any traditional distinctions between the canvas and the depicted scene. Editor: Absolutely. And it dances between the concrete and the intangible. I mean, look at the stratification—layers upon layers. I almost feel like I am staring at an archeological dig. Does that resonate, thinking about layers of human actions present through these colors? Curator: Absolutely. The technique makes me wonder about Ortiz’s studio practice. The controlled application of the paint must have required immense physical effort to create these peaks and troughs. What implications might that process have for interpreting his work? It feels really performative. Editor: Almost like a ritual, wouldn't you say? I'm drawn to that horizon line slashing across the centre - and all those angular marks above the horizon line, I imagine jagged teeth of mountain peaks biting at the pale sky... though, ultimately the 'what' recedes and it returns to surface. Curator: Indeed. And by naming it simply "70 x 100," it directs focus back to the physical object, challenging viewers to move beyond easy narratives. Instead, he forces viewers to interact directly with the materials and the implications of their transformation, both physical and economical. Editor: Which, is interesting in itself. To create something of value using mostly acrylic and canvas! Curator: So, what do we leave our listeners with after taking this journey with Jimmy Ortiz? Editor: I will be carrying this earthy horizon with me, feeling encouraged to trace my own stories and see beyond surfaces. Curator: For me, it's a reminder to appreciate the hidden labour embedded within artworks. Hopefully, the listeners will too.