Body Paint 2009

Abie Loy Kemarre made this painting, "Body Paint," with what looks like acrylic on canvas. The process seems so crucial here; it is visible in every mark. I love how the painting is constructed of so many small, individual rectangles, each with a dark interior and a bright border of red, yellow, or blue. Looking closely, you can see the slight imperfections in each shape, the tiny wobbles and overlaps, and how the colors sometimes bleed into each other, suggesting a real human hand at work. There is this overall sense of repetition, but it never feels monotonous. For me, the painting brings to mind the work of Agnes Martin, but with a completely different cultural lens. Where Martin's grids feel austere and minimal, Kemarre's painting is bursting with energy and life. It's a reminder that even within the strictest of structures, there is always room for individuality and expression.