29.6.61 T 1961

Julius Bissier made this ink and wash painting in 1961, and it feels like a little stage set for the imagination. The shapes are simple, almost childlike, but the way he’s layered the washes of ink gives them a real depth. It feels like you could just step right into this world. Look at the mottled texture of the green "tabletop," it’s not just one flat color. There are layers and layers of pigment, creating this almost mossy, organic feel, like a tiny landscape. Then, those little bowls and the ‘T’ floating in the air, create a sense of playful mystery. What’s going on here? It feels like some kind of symbolic language that I don’t quite understand, but I’m intrigued by it. Bissier’s work reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin, in the way they both use simple forms to create a sense of quiet contemplation. But Bissier’s got this added element of whimsy that I find really appealing. Art doesn’t always have to have answers. Sometimes it’s just about creating a space for us to wander and wonder.