Ziemia (fragment) 1969

Roman Opalka made this fragment of ‘Ziemia’ with paint, and an incredible commitment to process. It's like looking at a field of numbers, each one a tiny mark contributing to the whole. The surface is so textured, it's almost sculptural. You can see each individual stroke, each number laid down with intention, but also with a kind of surrender to the counting. There’s a meditative quality about it, both for the artist and for us as viewers. It brings to mind On Kawara, with his date paintings, both are invested in the idea of time, but where Kawara’s works feel more like an index, Opalka's feel deeply personal. Look at the way the marks get lighter as they recede into the distance. This isn’t just about representation; it’s about the physical act of painting, the gesture of the hand, and the way that gesture can become a form of expression.