Il corpo del silenzio, 29-3-83 1983

Irma Blank made this piece, 'Il corpo del silenzio, 29-3-83', using what looks like soft pastel or maybe crayon on paper, in 1983. The lavender hue is soft, almost like a whisper, and the marks repeat, a kind of meditative mantra in visual form. Up close, you can see the texture of the paper coming through, giving it a tactile feel. The lines are not perfect, there's a human quality to the slight wobbles and variations in pressure. It’s this imperfection that makes it so engaging. I keep thinking about Agnes Martin. Both artists share this interest in the grid and repetition, but while Martin's lines are airy and ethereal, Blank's feel more grounded, more connected to the body, as the title suggests. This piece reminds us that art doesn't always have to shout. Sometimes, the quietest voices have the most to say.