Wig-Wam 1991

Piero Dorazio made this painting, "Wig-Wam" using geometric forms and bright colours. The title suggests a playful sense of structure and space. Dorazio was interested in the process of artmaking. The texture here seems smooth, with clean lines of alternating opaque colour creating an even surface. But if you look closer, you can see the hand of the artist, and the careful layering of colours. The grid-like structure, created by these lines, is reminiscent of weaving, and gives the image an optic quality, like a pattern that shifts as you move. Look at the diamond in the bottom left corner, the direction of the lines appear to change when compared to the diamonds around it, making the painting dynamic. Dorazio shared some ideas with artists like Josef Albers, who were interested in colour relationships, and the subtle effects of colour combinations. Ultimately, these colour relations remain open and alive. There's no one way to see it!