Head of a Catalan Peasant (2) 1925

Joan Miró made this painting, Head of a Catalan Peasant, and just look at that palette! It’s like the sun and earth are hanging out in the sky together. I can only imagine Miró starting with that grid – an underlying structure – then letting his mind wander. The peasant's head emerges through these simple shapes and lines. Those twin moon-like eyes staring out with thin lines extending like whiskers! What was Miró thinking? How did the image emerge? Maybe he wasn’t even sure himself. The red shape is like a hat or a strange curl of hair – very playful and gestural. And then those brown tendrils dangling down – are they roots, or perhaps a beard? Miró and I are connected across time. Other painters inspire me to be brave, try new things, and see where the painting takes me. It's about discovery, not knowing, letting the painting itself lead the way. It’s a conversation between him and me and you and all the paintings we’ve ever seen.