Untitled 1991

This is an untitled piece by John Armleder, made with a simple watercolour technique. I love the way he lets the process speak! The material aspect here is almost a game of hide and seek. The paint is so thin, so translucent, that it barely registers. Look closely, and you’ll see the subtle texture of the paper, slightly puckered where the watercolor sits. Notice how the yellow of the circles isn't uniform; there are lighter and darker areas within each, indicating a layering of washes, each one applied with a delicate hand. And what about the negative space, the off-white paper surrounding the circles? That, too, becomes a presence. Armleder reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin, in his own way. Both artists share an interest in simplicity, in using minimal means to create a space for contemplation. It's the kind of work that whispers rather than shouts, inviting us to lean in, to look closer, and to find our own meaning in the space between the dots.