Ballustrades 1965

Tihamer Gyarmathy created this ink drawing titled "Ballustrades". Notice how the composition is structured through a series of stark, contrasting black and white forms. The shapes fluctuate between geometric precision and organic looseness, creating a dynamic visual tension. The interplay of circular, rectangular, and linear elements organizes the picture plane. A grid-like pattern in the background contrasts sharply with bold, calligraphic figures in the foreground. This juxtaposition disrupts any sense of traditional perspective, flattening the space and calling attention to the materiality of the ink on paper. Gyarmathy appears to destabilize conventional representation, inviting us to consider how basic visual components like line and shape can construct new ways of seeing and interpreting the world. The arrangement of forms encourages a semiotic reading, where each mark functions as a sign, contributing to an overall system of visual communication. What meaning can you derive from this?