The Persistence of Light 

Mark Beck's painting, "The Persistence of Light," presents a scene dominated by geometric forms and contrasting light. The interplay between the rigid structures of the building and the fluid, open sea creates a compelling visual tension. Beck's arrangement invites a structuralist reading through the composition of vertical house facades set against a horizontal sea line. The geometric regularity of the house contrasts with the natural irregularity of the sea, challenging conventional artistic representation. This contrast creates a dialogue about order versus chaos, and artificial versus natural. The materiality of the paint is evident in the textured surfaces of the buildings. Beck uses light to destabilize fixed meanings, as the shadows shift and transform the appearance of familiar forms, suggesting the ephemeral nature of perception and reality. This painting reminds us that visual experience is fluid, shaped by light, perspective, and our own interpretive framework.