Untitled 2000

Etel Adnan made this small, untitled oil painting with a brush and a whole lot of feeling. Just look at the buttery texture of the paint, laid on thick, a testament to Adnan’s physical engagement with her materials. The painting is divided into blocks of color, each seemingly simple but layered with nuance. It feels as though the artist is making decisions in front of our eyes. The colours are bold, the orange contrasting with the blues and greens, and then that little pop of red. It’s all about the experience of colour, and how we relate to one another. And check out that stroke of blue, that long, vertical line of pure color, it's like a pillar holding the whole composition together. Adnan’s painting reminds me of those by Richard Diebenkorn; they both share this commitment to color and form that transcends any need for representation. Ultimately, it’s about embracing the ambiguity and the endless possibilities of paint.