asa #02 2007

This collection of paintings, titled asa #02, is by the Portuguese artist Pedro Calapez. He worked with traditional materials like oil paint on canvas, yet assembled the results in a highly unconventional way. Notice how each canvas is relatively small, and the arrangement of many canvases creates a larger composition on the wall. Calapez coaxes colors and textures out of his medium. Blues and yellows are juxtaposed, and each panel displays various effects, from soft gradients to hard-edged geometry. The labor-intensive process invites consideration of the amount of physical work involved in the production. What emerges are social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, as well as an emphasis on materials and making. These are all crucial to understanding the full meaning of an artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.