Untitled (Batik) 1981

Emily Kame Kngwarreye made this untitled Batik out of dye on silk. What a treat! The earth-tone palette of reds, yellows, and whites create a dynamic surface through seemingly chaotic lines and dots. I can almost feel the wax melting and flowing, as the artist lays down each line. Look closely, and you'll see how the dye bleeds slightly, creating soft edges and a sense of movement. It’s like a map of something, but I can’t be sure of what. I love the tension between the loose, gestural marks and the overall grid-like structure. It reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, who also used grids to explore notions of space. Kngwarreye’s work feels like an open invitation, a conversation between the artist and the viewer, with no fixed answers, just a sense of endless possibility.