Follies 1977

Tess Jaray made 'Follies', and from the look of it, likely with flat colours, layered to create a pattern. It feels so process-oriented, like she's setting up a system and then letting it play out. I love how the surface is so flat, almost like it's been printed, but you can still feel the hand in it. There's this tension between the mechanical repetition and the slight variations in color and shape. Take one of the little 'follies' – those stacks of three lines. The way the colors shift from a soft orange to a muted green gives them a kind of depth, like they're breathing. It makes me think of Sol LeWitt's wall drawings, but with a warmer, more human touch. Artists like Jaray remind me that painting can be both rigorous and playful, a space for endless experimentation. It's not about finding one right answer, but about embracing the possibilities.