Eletrobras [Rio] 2013

Sarah Morris made "Eletrobras [Rio]" with household gloss paint on canvas. Looking at this, I imagine her carefully masking off each section, filling in those hard-edged shapes with layers of slick, bright color. You can feel the tension between the flat surface and the illusion of depth created by the overlapping circles and leaf-like forms. What was Sarah thinking, I wonder, as she worked on this? Was she interested in how the colors interact, or how the shapes create a sense of movement and energy? It reminds me of some Op art, but also the way cityscapes are designed, a nod to the urban environment. And with these slick, enamel-like surfaces I also see a bit of Warhol's pop sensibility. All painting is a conversation across time – and Sarah’s work is a part of that on-going exchange. There’s a freedom in letting go of fixed meanings and embracing the multiple possibilities that emerge when we really look.