Untitled 

Tiberiy Szilvashi’s painting is a powerful statement made with humble means. It appears to be simply oil paint applied to a canvas, yet look closely, and you see an active surface, built up through many applications. There is no image here, no traditional composition, just blue pigment made palpable. Szilvashi has coaxed a remarkable range of textures from this one material, from smooth fields to almost crusty ridges along the edges. Notice the considerable labor involved in achieving this effect, a slow accumulation of layers over time. In a way, the painting becomes its own subject. Szilvashi’s process can be seen in relation to those who have applied techniques drawn from other creative practices such as craft. This approach forces us to reconsider the politics of labor and consumption associated with art production, and to recognize the value in pure material expression.