Space I 2010

Editor: This is "Space I" by Sergej Jensen, and it’s part of the Tate collection. The canvas seems to be stained in varying shades of grey. It’s quite large, almost like a blank wall. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The subtle modulations of tone and texture across the linen are quite captivating. Note how Jensen uses staining, rather than traditional brushwork, to engage with the materiality of the support itself. How does this interplay of surface and void inform your understanding of "space" here? Editor: I guess it's less about a depicted space, and more about the space the canvas itself occupies. So, it's about the objecthood of the painting? Curator: Precisely. The artist directs our attention to the intrinsic elements of painting: surface, texture, and the very act of seeing. A meditation on the medium itself, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Definitely. I hadn't considered the focus on the 'act of seeing' itself. Thanks for highlighting the nuances of surface and texture in the work.