Soul Control 1991

Peter Halley made this painting, "Soul Control", with flat, bold colors, a choice that throws us right into the heart of his process. It's like he’s saying, "Here's the thing, deal with it!" The colors and textures work together in unexpected ways. The surfaces look smooth, almost machine-made, which is interesting considering how physical painting usually is. Then you see that big red square – it's not just sitting there. It's got this weight, this presence that shifts how you read everything else around it. It’s like a visual stop sign, making you pause and reconsider. Halley's work reminds me a bit of Frank Stella's, but with a colder, more digital vibe. It’s like he's asking us what it means to be human in a world that's increasingly abstract and controlled. It’s a question, not an answer, and that's what keeps it alive.