Unity Unity 2003

Herman de Vries made this artwork, called 'Unity Unity', using layers and layers of colourful marks on paper. It’s a sea of text, handwriting almost, a testament to the power of process, of letting the hand lead. Up close, you can see each individual ‘unity’ written over and over, in pen. The colours – reds, blues, greens, blacks – create a kind of visual hum, like looking at static, or feeling the buzz of a crowd. The density of the marks is so all-consuming, that the idea of ‘unity’ begins to feel overwhelming, maybe even contradictory, to our experience of multiplicities. I like how the diagonal slashes cut through the word, a visual disruption of its supposed harmony. This piece reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin. Both artists use repetition, and simple marks, to invite a space of contemplation. Art is a conversation across time, and open to interpretation. What does 'unity' mean to you?