Untitled 1960 1960

Vilen Barsky made this untitled piece in 1960, and its playful colour palette feels like a party. There's a real sense of joy in the making, that I find infectious. I'm drawn to the scribbly texture of the yellow background, it’s kind of agitated, like a field of scratch marks. This textural busyness makes the flat blocks of colour in the foreground feel really grounded. Look at how the black lines confidently define the figures, almost like a comic strip, and yet, there’s also something quite raw about the application. The way the blue paint bleeds slightly outside the lines gives the impression of constant motion, as if the whole image is buzzing with energy. It reminds me a little of Joan Miró's playful simplicity. But Barsky brings his own unique energy to it, like a visual poem, open to endless readings.