Surface Of Coral 1981

Ronnie Landfield's "Surface Of Coral" presents us with horizontal bands of colour in watercolour that seem to float on the surface. The reds, oranges, yellows, blues and purples are applied in broad strokes, creating a soft, diffused effect. The composition is simple, yet the interplay of colours evokes a sense of warmth and tranquility. Landfield’s approach to colour and form resonates with the Color Field painters like Mark Rothko, who sought to explore the emotional and spiritual potential of abstract art. There is a nod to semiotics here, where each colour band could be interpreted as a signifier, contributing to a larger symbolic system. The soft, blended colours invite the viewer to contemplate their relationship to each other, blurring the boundaries between representation and abstraction. The horizontal orientation of the artwork reinforces a sense of stability and calm, reflecting a move towards an art that destabilizes established meanings and values, inviting a more fluid and open-ended interpretation. It suggests that art is a space for exploration, where meaning is not fixed but constantly negotiated.