Plafond van Vismarkt 16-17 te Leiden 1901

This is a photograph of a ceiling, made by an anonymous photographer working for Monumentenzorg, perhaps as a record of a significant architectural feature. It looks like plasterwork, maybe even cake decoration - or sand mandalas, that are swept away as soon as they’re finished. There's something very beautiful and quiet in the monochrome, the limited palette, and the simple, formal arrangement. It reminds me that artmaking can be about humble things. There's a kind of delicacy to the composition, a central rosette surrounded by smaller motifs, all held within the circle. But the texture is so rough and handmade. I find that juxtaposition of the delicate and the crude really appealing. I’m reminded of Eva Hesse’s experimental approach to sculpture, her use of unconventional materials to create forms that are both rigorous and organic. This picture also has that spirit, a conversation between structure and chance. Art is a process, and it's about embracing ambiguity.