TOTAL ECLIPSE II 2013

Rashid Al Khalifa made "TOTAL ECLIPSE II" using paint to create a sort of dance between the planned and the accidental. The earthy brown lines almost look like they were dripped or flung, a real hands-on process. Up close, the texture is key. See how the paint sits on the surface, not quite flat, with these subtle ridges and valleys? It gives the painting a real physical presence. I’m drawn to that big, bold black circle in the middle, so smooth and solid. It’s like a full stop in the middle of all that movement, making the eye linger. This piece reminds me a bit of Gerhard Richter’s abstract paintings, where he’d drag paint across the canvas. Both artists let the material do its thing, embracing the unexpected. It's like they are both saying that art isn't about perfection; it's about exploration, a conversation between the artist and the medium.