Uitzicht op vuilnisvat op boulevard 1984

This view of a trash can on a boulevard was made by Marinus Fuit. It’s deceptively simple, but that’s where the magic lies. The colour palette is limited - blues, greys, yellow and white – almost like a faded photograph. Look closely and you’ll see that the work is constructed from many individual lines, it reminds me of drawings by Alex Katz. A process of layering and building, not unlike how we accumulate memories. See how the trash can casts a long shadow, anchoring it to the tiled floor? It's like the can is the centre of the universe. The trash can is so central, it feels as if the artist wants us to consider the beauty in the mundane, something so often overlooked. It brings to mind the work of Ed Ruscha, who elevated everyday objects to the level of high art. Art isn’t always about grand gestures; sometimes, it’s about finding poetry in a trash can, right where we least expect it.