Ups And Downs #8 2013

Kaws made "Ups and Downs #8" with smooth blocks of pink, purple and blue, like a colour chart from a dream world. I bet he was thinking about how colours talk to each other, like they're gossiping in the studio. The colours are laid down flat with hard edges, making the forms jump out at you. I can imagine Kaws, layering each section, deciding when enough is enough. It’s like he is setting up a stage for shapes to perform, and I wonder, what are they trying to tell us? I find myself thinking of other artists, like Ellsworth Kelly, who were also into simple shapes and bold colors. It’s as though they're all part of a club, riffing off each other, pushing and pulling at the idea of what a painting can be. And that's the thing about painting, it’s an ongoing conversation, where artists keep answering and questioning each other, across time.