Composition 1971

This is a painting made with what looks like enamel on paper by Yuri Zlotnikov and it's a mad dance of colored marks. I can almost see Zlotnikov’s hand moving quickly across the page. It feels like he’s capturing an idea, not illustrating it. I’m thinking about how much energy goes into making something that looks so effortless. All those red and yellow lines zipping around, bumping into blacks, greens, and purples. There is something playful and humorous. Zlotnikov almost seems like he is winking at us. Looking at the overall effect, I see echoes of other artists like Kandinsky, maybe even Klee. These artists were all interested in pushing painting beyond representation into a kind of visual music. What I love about this piece is how it shows artists in constant conversation, building on each other's ideas and inspiring future generations. And how lucky are we to be able to witness these conversations!