Ins+Outs 1967

Robert Huot made ‘Ins+Outs’ with humble materials, which feels like a challenge to the grandiosity of art. Here, a square form sits neatly next to a horizontal rectangle, whispering of minimalist forms. The grain in the wood is like a delicate drawing, a collaboration between the artist and the material itself. There is also a very fine drawn line, like a geometric game is being played out in front of us. It's all about the surface and the subtle interplay of textures – the slightly rough feel of the wood, the almost imperceptible variations in tone. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's quiet, contemplative grids, but with a down-to-earth, almost folksy sensibility. This work celebrates the beauty of simplicity. It invites us to slow down, to really see, and to appreciate the poetry of the everyday. It's not trying to be profound. It just is, and that’s enough.