Body Paint 2009

Abie Loy Kemarre made this painting, titled "Body Paint," with what looks like fine brushes and a vibrant palette of reds, yellows, blues, and blacks. I imagine her, focused and deliberate, building up this intricate field, each little rectangle carefully placed. I wonder, did she have a clear vision from the start, or did it emerge through the act of painting itself, shifting and changing as she went along? You know, it reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin's grids, but with this grounded, earthy energy. The texture of the paint looks thin, almost transparent in places, allowing the black ground to peek through. Each form is distinct, like tiny windows, framing a dark interior. There's a rhythm to the painting, a pulse that invites you to get lost in its details. It’s like she’s sharing a personal language, inviting us to decipher the emotional and intellectual resonances woven into its surface. Paintings like this remind me that art is an ongoing exchange, across time and cultures. We’re all inspiring each other, you know?