Opus 149 1962

Hans Hinterreiter made this painting, Opus 149, and it's a trip! The sphere is created from blocks of color, salmon pink, grey, and black. Look closely, and you can see the painting process. It’s so precise! Hinterreiter is interested in geometry and math, but I think his palette and touch add a whole other layer. The colors are opaque, which makes the geometric shapes really pop. I get a sense of movement and depth; the color palette seems to vibrate and undulate before my eyes. I wonder what brushes or tools he used to make this? There’s something about the rounded, swollen shapes contained within the sphere that feels both organic and mechanical. I’m reminded of Bridget Riley. Both artists play with visual perception. This kind of art embraces multiple interpretations. It’s not about fixed meanings, but how we experience the world.