Cy Twombly (b. 1928, USA – d. 2011, Italy)
Arcadia, 1958

Well… First I thought this was just ridiculous. Then I thought it was funny. But there is something in it that works. Framing certainly helps – anything can look good in a white cube or in a glossy picture book. But I start admitting that it may be not all that simple.

There is certain monochrome finesse of the background, understated jazzy rhythm of the linework, suggestion of the body movements making those marks… in some of the paintings the subject matter is quite pronounced, too. I start feeling that it is me who is ridiculous now, for starting to like this – but then I read the reviews, lists of the prizes won, and kind of find myself in a good company…

I guess, I am just jealous of the artistic confidence that must be needed to make this kind of work. But it also gives hope that good stuff is not necessarily obvious, it is not only about living up to already formed expectations…

And yeah, he is already on my list of collaborators in my ‘Colaborations’ series…