Spazio potenziale 1973

Grazia Varisco made this geometric artwork called 'Spazio potenziale' which translates to 'potential space', using simple materials – black and colored frames against a stark white background. It’s all about lines and squares, isn't it? It reminds me that artmaking is a process of building up and breaking down. Look closely, you can see that Varisco's composition isn't about creating a perfect, stable image. The frames are slightly off-kilter; they sit in a way that creates tension, like they could shift at any moment. That off-white stripe that cuts across the black square is amazing. It adds another layer of spatial play, as if another plane is slicing through the composition. Varisco’s work sits within a conversation of artists like Sol LeWitt and Josef Albers, who were interested in the relationship between form and perception. What's great about this kind of art is that it doesn't give you all the answers. It’s an open-ended invitation to explore the possibilities of seeing.