Field: Scar 1990

Warren Rohrer made this painting titled, 'Field: Scar', with paint, though I'm not sure exactly when. You can see his process in the build-up of textures and the way he’s made marks in the paint. It’s like a conversation with the surface. The painting is divided into two sections with different yellows, the upper with scribbled marks. The materiality of the paint is so present. Rohrer has applied it thickly, creating a tactile surface. Up close, you can see the peaks and valleys of the brushstrokes. Those scribbles are like scars, aren’t they? Layer upon layer, creating a history, a memory of the painting's creation. This reminds me of Agnes Martin’s subtle grids, but Rohrer’s got a kind of earthiness, which Martin didn’t have. Both artists find something profound in simplicity, but in their own ways. Ultimately, it's about embracing the open-endedness of art. It’s up to you to find what resonates!