Na-Bolom 1993

Gunther Gerzso made this enigmatic painting, Na-Bolom, with oil paint on canvas. You can see the mark-making here really emphasizes process. It is a composition constructed through geometric forms. The texture throughout is really remarkable. The paint is applied in layers, some thin and washy, others more built-up, giving the surface a kind of depth that's not just visual, but almost tactile. The overall pale, greenish color is interspersed with shapes in red, white, and black. Take a closer look at the large square in the upper-right quadrant. The surface is alive with subtle variations in color and texture. It really feels like Gerzso is inviting us to slow down and really consider the painting’s surface. Thinking about other artists, I am reminded of the grid paintings of Agnes Martin, where geometric abstraction becomes a vehicle for meditation and introspection. Ultimately, the success of a painting like this lies in its ambiguity, its ability to resist easy interpretation, and invite new ways of seeing the world.