It Is Believed That Some Dinosaurs Could Run Faster Than a Cheetah 1991

Julian Opie made this arrangement of painted forms, 'It Is Believed That Some Dinosaurs Could Run Faster Than a Cheetah', to explore the language of colour and sculpture. There’s a calmness, a sort of quiet energy, in the way Opie handles these rectangular forms and the muted palette that speaks of making art as a thoughtful process. The material aspect of the work is essential; the smooth, almost flawless surface of the painted rectangles invites touch, yet subtly denies it. The colour in each block is opaque, dense, and flat, but not without character. The gaps and intervals between them are just as important as the painted surfaces themselves, creating a rhythmic visual experience as your eye dances across the work. Look at the lavender block on the right: its placement feels both considered and arbitrary. The artwork echoes the legacy of artists like Agnes Martin, who embraced minimalist forms. It highlights that art is an ongoing conversation where ideas are exchanged, reinterpreted, and reshaped across time.