New Quarter 2003

Tal R made this painting, New Quarter, with a raw, almost childlike energy. The color palette is bold, clashing – reds, blues, yellows – laid down with thick, juicy strokes. It's like he’s not trying to represent something, but rather trying to make something happen on the canvas. Look at the green in the foreground; it's not just green, it's a whole field of different marks. You can almost feel the bristles of the brush and the weight of the paint, so full of texture. Then, this row of figures - they’re like characters from a dream, each with their own strange and wonderful energy. Tal R reminds me a little of Philip Guston, in the way he fearlessly embraces messiness. It's a reminder that art doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be alive.