White Cat 2001

Aldemir Martins made this 'White Cat' painting, and it feels like he’s having a real conversation with the paint. The colours and shapes aren’t trying to trick you into thinking this is a real cat, instead Martins uses a pared down visual language to present us with the essence of 'cat-ness'. The painting is all about simple pleasures. The paint looks thin and juicy, almost like watercolour, but with the punch of acrylic. The cat’s outline is a delicate red, like a child’s drawing, giving it a naive quality. Take a look at the eyes, that yellow triangle, framed by the concentric line of blue. It’s like the cat is staring right through you. Martins' work has echoes of artists like Joan Miró or Paul Klee, those who knew how to distill the world into playful, symbolic forms, but Martins brings his own vibrant, Brazilian sensibility to the mix. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be serious, it can also be light, joyful, and a little bit quirky.