Untitled 1971

This artwork of Joe Goode presents us with a field of pink, punctuated by a single, torn shape. The torn shape evokes a sense of vulnerability and exposure. Think of the ancient motif of the 'horror vacui', the fear of empty space, here inverted. This torn shape is a window, or perhaps a wound, revealing a deeper, unseen reality. It is reminiscent of the Renaissance concept of 'squarcio', the tear, where artists like Leonardo da Vinci used fragmented forms to suggest hidden knowledge or psychological depth. This motif transcends time; consider the evolution of such symbols through history. In ancient cultures, tears or breaks in the fabric of reality were often seen as portals to the divine or the underworld. In contemporary art, this motif may represent the fragmentation of identity or the breakdown of societal norms. It is the persistence and transformation of such symbols that connect us to our cultural and emotional roots.