775 Park 1978

Friedensreich Hundertwasser made this painting of what might be a park, or an alternative world, using, it seems, acrylic and metallic paint. There's so much surface energy here. It's not about a view, but rather about building up layers. The paint is applied quite thinly, yet the effect is rich, almost psychedelic, with these wonderful, concentric circles that create a sense of movement and depth. I'm drawn to the little silver spirals that punctuate the black stems, each like a tiny galaxy, anchoring the composition. They feel talismanic. Hundertwasser reminds me a little of Gustav Klimt, both artists favouring ornament and pattern, but while Klimt is often opulent, Hundertwasser has a rawer, more playful energy. His works invite us to see the world not as a fixed reality, but as something fluid, ever-changing, and open to interpretation.