Pollen 1978

Wolfgang Laib has created this captivating piece by carefully placing pollen in a glass jar. I love this idea! I imagine him delicately gathering pollen, a sort of quiet, slow motion action, and then carefully placing it into a jar. What does that feel like? He must have been thinking about the fragility of life, the preciousness of nature, and the beauty of simplicity. This single gesture communicates so much. The colour is lovely, a muted golden hue that radiates warmth, like a ray of sun captured in a jar, a tangible essence of nature. I’m reminded of Agnes Martin’s delicate touch and her exploration of subtle variations in colour. Just as Martin's work invites contemplation and meditation, Laib's piece offers us a moment of stillness, a chance to connect with the natural world. It’s like the artists are in an ongoing conversation across time, each inspiring the other.