Progression of Four Graded Colours 1967

Richard Paul Lohse’s work is about the power of colour to shape and shift our perceptions. Look at how Lohse uses geometry and colour as symbols to provoke deep subconscious responses. Notice the recurring grid motif, a symbol of order, structure, and mathematical precision found since antiquity. The symbolic association of colours often taps into cultural memory and primal emotional states. We may recall Yves Klein's use of International Klein Blue to evoke the immaterial, or Rothko's dark hues to inspire introspection. Here, colour is arranged according to a precise system; observe how Lohse orchestrates the relationships of colour to create a visual rhythm. In ancient cultures, colours were associated with the gods and the cosmos. The colours were used to evoke specific psychological or emotional responses that tap into a collective memory. Lohse explores the way geometric forms and colours evoke a subjective and innate emotional and psychological response.