In the park 1992

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this piece, "In the park," using what looks like ink on paper, and right away, I’m struck by the artist's confidence. Look how the strokes vary from thick to thin, wet to dry. The ink is a world of blacks, greys, and whites! You can see the artist playing with the possibilities of a single colour. It’s like a dance, a back-and-forth between control and letting go. Take the big tree on the left – you can almost feel the weight of the trunk through these broad, solid strokes. Then, your eye jumps up into the network of branches sketched with quick, wiry lines. The ground is a wash of grey, punctuated by dark, gestural flicks that suggest shadows. This reminds me a bit of Chinese ink painting, where the artist seeks to capture the spirit of a thing, rather than a literal representation. It's a beautiful example of how a simple medium can be used to create a complex and evocative image, where feeling trumps pure description.