150 Singing Steamer in Ultramarine III 1959

Friedensreich Hundertwasser made this picture of a boat, or ship, or floating palace, in ultramarine. I love how the title tells you that it is singing! It’s as if Hundertwasser has created a whole world from just the surface of the picture. The paint isn't thick, but it’s built up in layers, like sediment, creating a flat, but richly textured surface. Little red rectangles, and yellow squares play against a blue background. My eye is drawn to the circles and spirals, the way he repeats these forms in a slightly wonky way, each one unique. They almost seem to be dancing! I can’t help but think of Gustav Klimt when looking at this. There’s a similar love of decoration, an interest in geometry, and a feeling of dreamlike fantasy. These two artists show us that painting is a way of thinking, a way of building a world of images and signs through touch and feeling.