Stars and Disasters (Astres et Désastres) 1969

Pierre Alechinsky made this print, 'Stars and Disasters', layering coloured inks, probably with a woodcut, in a spiralling configuration. See how each ring pulses outwards, a bit wonky, but with real energy. The whole thing feels like a strange scientific diagram, or some kind of map, charting unseen forces, the way one might interpret dreams. The colours, radiating from the center, move from yellow to red to blue; and the blobs and shapes dotted around the rings look like falling debris. I really appreciate the way Alechinsky embraces the irregularity of the hand-made process. There’s a gorgeous little figure in the bottom right hand corner. It’s like a doodle, or an afterthought, but somehow that one small detail brings a feeling of humanity and humor to the image. I’m reminded of Joan Miró, with his biomorphic shapes and playful compositions. Like Miró, Alechinsky invites us to see the world with a sense of wonder and childlike curiosity. Art is like that, a conversation that goes on between artists, across time, open to all kinds of possibilities.