Opus 96 B 1966

In 1966, Hans Hinterreiter made "Opus 96 B" with tempera, and right away you’re thinking about the rhythm of shapes, how they swell and contract like an accordion. This is a total process piece, built up slowly, layer by layer. I love how the geometry’s so tight, but the hand of the artist is all over it. The lines aren't perfect, and the colours have this muted quality, like looking at something from the past, or maybe peeking into an alternate dimension. The red streaks pull you in, don't they? They twist and turn, almost fighting with the black and white for space. It makes me think about how we create our own structures and rules, and then we bump up against them. Thinking about other artists obsessed with geometry, I'm reminded of Hilma af Klint, but without the spiritual frosting. It's more of a puzzle, a conversation, leaving you wondering if there's an answer or if the joy is just in the looking.