Transpercer la transparence (1) 1951

Gherasim Luca made this collage – *Transpercer la transparence* – with layers of translucent material on paper and framed with a blue border. The overlapping rectangles feel so delicate, so considered; as if each piece was placed with intention, in conversation with its neighbours. You can almost imagine Luca, bending over the surface, carefully arranging and rearranging the shapes. I wonder if he was thinking about light and shadow, or the way colours interact when they’re layered. I like to think that he was trying to pierce through the boundaries of perception, seeking a deeper understanding of space. The way the light filters through the paper evokes a quiet contemplative feeling. This composition seems to be in conversation with other collage artists like Kurt Schwitters, who embraced chance and experimentation. Ultimately, art-making is about exchange, building upon what came before, and finding one's own voice in the process. Embracing that freedom, the chance to explore different ideas without fear of failure, is how we all grow as artists and human beings.