Murranji 1998

Robert MacPherson made ‘Murranji’ with paint on paper, and right away I’m struck by how he’s embraced the simplicity of this medium. It’s kind of amazing to think about how many paintings have been made with just paint and paper! Looking closer, I see each brushstroke as a kind of dance. The paint isn’t overworked; it feels fresh, like he's letting the brush lead the way, and that process is right there on the surface for us to see. There’s this one shape, about halfway along and in the middle row, that looks like a heavy raindrop or maybe an upturned leaf. The way MacPherson’s put down the paint makes it feel solid but fleeting, present but also kind of dissolving. It reminds me of Guston, but also Agnes Martin – how they both found ways to make simple gestures carry so much weight. Ultimately, it’s the openness that gets me, the sense that meaning is always on the move.