553A Street for Survivors 1971

Friedensreich Hundertwasser made '553A Street for Survivors' with, what looks like, screen printing, creating these areas of flat vibrant colors. The piece feels like a playful act of world-building. I’m drawn to the way the artist builds up this image, like a child might, starting with simple forms and then adding layers of detail. The surface is quite flat, but the use of color and pattern creates a real sense of depth and movement. Take a look at the eye motif near the top of the image. It’s both an eye, and also a kind of abstracted landscape, with a sun setting over a distant horizon. Hundertwasser's architecture always brings Gaudi to mind, with his emphasis on organic forms and colorful decoration. Like Gaudi, Hundertwasser seemed to be interested in creating an art that was deeply integrated with the natural world, and which celebrated the beauty and diversity of life. I love how this piece invites us to see the world in new and unexpected ways, reminding us that art can be found in the most ordinary of places.