Borealis Shares I 1990

Here’s this crazy, beautiful artwork, Borealis Shares I, made by Robert Rauschenberg. Look at the rich metallics and the way the image appears to have been transferred onto the material’s surface. I imagine Rauschenberg building up the layers, printing and collaging, maybe even painting, and watching as the image takes on a new life. There's a clock at the top, then what looks like a figure on a bicycle. The paint drips, the colors bleed; it’s all so physical, like the artwork is breathing. I feel like he’s saying something about time, motion, and maybe even memory? Rauschenberg was always pushing the boundaries of what art could be, incorporating everyday objects and images into his work. He was in constant dialogue with other artists, like Jasper Johns and Cy Twombly, all riffing off each other's ideas, experimenting with different materials and processes. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what it means. That's the beauty of painting, right? It invites us to slow down, to look closely, and to find our own meaning in the mess.