Ilke 1951

Carmelo Arden Quin made this painting, Ilke, with lines and spots on a white background. I imagine him, standing back to look, then stepping forward to add another line. What would it be like to make a painting like this? With each line and circle so carefully placed. It’s a composition that feels both precise and playful; like a Mondrian gone wild. The canvas itself isn’t rectangular. I’m curious about that choice: what does it mean to break away from the traditional format? Think about how Arden Quin is in conversation with other artists, like Torres-Garcia, who also worked with geometric forms. It’s like they’re all part of a big, ongoing conversation about what painting can be, each one responding to and riffing off the others. It’s a good reminder that art isn’t made in a vacuum.