Pencils Exp10 2018

Alfio Giuffrida made this painting, Pencils Exp10, using flat blocks of colour to create a rather curious composition. The whole thing feels very process-oriented, like a puzzle or an exploded diagram. The colours are bold and separated, giving it a graphic quality. It's hard to tell exactly what kind of paint he’s using, but it's laid down in clean, flat areas. The texture is smooth, and the colours are opaque, there’s no real blending, just clear divisions. Look at how the red objects pop against the blue pencil. It's this push and pull that keeps your eye moving around the canvas. Each shape is distinct, yet related. It reminds me a little of Léger, especially the way he flattened forms and used colour to create spatial relationships. Ultimately, Giuffrida is interested in the ongoing conversation about art and the various ways we can play with form, colour and composition. And as with all good art, this piece opens up more questions than answers, and that's what makes it exciting.