Aran 2005

This is a black and white photograph of a stone wall by Sean Scully. Just looking at the wall, I can imagine Scully's interest in construction, how things are put together, and the inherent structure, like a drawing. What was he thinking when he made this? The image reminds me of Agnes Martin's grids. She too was interested in the metaphysics of building and the repetitive gesture, as if the hand could touch infinity. Her work suggests a sort of meditation, like counting rosary beads. It's a gesture of the hand and body, a register of time passing. This wall is a solid form, yet the stones are distinct. See how they are stacked and arranged. Look at the different planes and the light as it hits them. I find it comforting and a little melancholic, like the ocean. I feel like Scully is telling us, ‘This is what it is, and it’s good.’