Unity Unity 2003

Herman de Vries made "Unity Unity" with marks in soft, muted colors. I imagine him, pen in hand, building up layers of meaning through repetition and variation. It makes me think about Agnes Martin, who also worked with grids, and how she created these meditative spaces. De Vries is also trying to create a meditative field of mark-making. Look how the word 'unity' is repeated, tilted, layered—a kind of mantra inscribed across the surface. The materiality of the work becomes really important here, right? The texture of the paper, the subtle variations in the pressure of the pen, these all contribute to the rhythm and feel of the piece. It's like he's trying to find unity in the act of writing itself. It's a reminder that art is often about the process, the back and forth between intention and chance. And maybe it's about searching for meaning in the everyday act of making.