29-E-78 1978

Nassos Daphnis made 29-E-78 with a steady hand, probably using tape and rulers. I imagine Daphnis, poised with his brush, carefully laying down each stripe of yellow and then the black; it’s not just color, it’s thought made visible. He makes us see how lines and shapes can talk to each other, creating these angular forms that seem like they could march right off the canvas. The surface is smooth and flat, so different from my usual messy brushstrokes, yet I understand the appeal. It’s about precision, intention. I imagine the artist thinking about Malevich and Mondrian, all those geometric guys. I can’t help thinking that art-making is an ongoing conversation across generations. We look, borrow, argue, and make something new from what's come before. And that’s a beautiful thing.