816 Switch Board 1980

Friedensreich Hundertwasser made this painting, Switch Board, and it's an explosion of color and swirling energy! I see a vortex of red, blue, and green lines pulling you into the center, where there is a light blue square. I imagine Hundertwasser, in his studio, intensely focused, layering the colors one by one, almost like a dance. The paint looks smooth, almost translucent in places, allowing light to bounce off the surface. It's not just about representation. The energy in those swirling lines, it’s like Hundertwasser is trying to capture not just what he sees, but what he feels. This piece really resonates with his architectural work, where he creates buildings with vibrant facades, twisting lines, and a celebration of nature. There is a lineage going all the way back to Art Nouveau in this love of the organic line. Artists are always riffing off of one another, and it's so incredible how Hundertwasser takes this language and makes it totally his own. I love how painting can be a portal to a place that is both strange and familiar!