Aekyad #224 2020

Douglas Abdell made this sculpture, Aekyad #224, from what looks like painted wood. There's something about the way the shapes are cut out that feels really direct and physical, like you can almost see the artist wrestling with the material. The whole thing is painted a uniform color, but the texture of the wood still peeks through, adding a kind of rough charm. I'm drawn to the jagged edges of the vertical supports – they're like teeth or mountain peaks, adding a sense of tension to the piece. The curves above feel like a language, but it's a language I don't quite understand. Each element seems carefully considered, yet there's also a playful, almost improvisational quality to the overall composition. It reminds me a little of early work by Forrest Bess. It makes me think about how art doesn't always have to be about perfection, sometimes it's about embracing the quirks and imperfections that make it unique.