Progression 1973

Gerhard von Graevenitz made this artwork titled Progression with a pen, perhaps even a rapidograph. Imagine his hand moving across the page, plotting a galaxy of related shapes. A field emerges, an all-over composition in delicate balance. The pressure is on, literally! Each form had to be just right – what a commitment. A real feat of endurance, a kind of controlled mania! The image reminds me of the op art of Bridget Riley. These artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. A process that is much like painting itself, as an embodied expression which embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meaning.