Transpercer la transparence (5) 1951

Gherasim Luca made this collage, "Transpercer la transparence (5)", from delicate translucent papers, which he cut and layered. The title means "piercing the transparent," and you can see how the overlapping shapes create a kind of depth. Up close, you can see that the papers aren't perfectly flat. They ripple and cast tiny shadows, as if the image is breathing, not fixed. The palette is a quiet symphony of beige and off-white, letting the forms do the talking. Look at the frame! It's got this sort of rococo, flowery vibe, but it's been painted this matte, robin’s egg blue. It really throws the whole thing into this weird, slightly off-kilter balance. In a way, Luca reminds me of Kurt Schwitters who also used found materials to create art. It's not about perfection, it's about the poetry of imperfection, you know?