Untitled 

Alvaro Lapa’s abstract painting is made with acrylic on canvas, materials that were widely available to artists after the mid-20th century. Lapa applied the paint in a flat, almost graphic style. Notice the repeated shapes resembling scales, carefully rendered. These evoke systems of justice and measure, with the many scales suggesting a concern for balance and fairness. The vibrant colors – blues, greens, and reds – are layered to create a world that feels both whimsical and unsettling. The choice of acrylic paint, with its quick-drying properties, allowed Lapa to work efficiently, building up the composition in distinct layers. The canvas support provides a stable ground for his imaginative vision. Considering Lapa’s work through the lens of its materials and the labor involved, helps us appreciate the artist’s skill in transforming everyday substances into a thought-provoking statement on social values and order.