Soft Edges 1984

This piece, “Soft Edges” by Ray Howlett, uses light to create an unreal space that feels infinite. Imagine Howlett working with these strips of light, coaxing them into existence, like a neon sculptor. What was he thinking, right? Maybe something about those glowing lines slicing through the darkness, each one holding a secret? Those parallel lines, it feels like he is inviting us to step into an alternate reality. It’s all smoke and mirrors, kind of like how we painters try to trick your eye into believing our illusions. It reminds me a little of Dan Flavin’s fluorescent light sculptures, or even some of James Turrell’s light installations – Howlett’s like a cousin in that family of light wranglers. We’re all just playing with perception, pushing the boundaries of what painting—or light—can do. It shows how artists are forever riffing off each other, amping up the conversation through time.