Untitled (for my mother Evangelia) 1987

Stephen Antonakos made this Untitled piece for his mother Evangelia using, it seems, simple shapes and a limited palette. What strikes me first is how he's approached the surface, not trying to hide the marks, but letting the history of the making show through. Look closely and you can see the brushstrokes, each layer telling a story of the process, almost like a dance of adding and subtracting. The silver square shimmers against the blue background. Then there's that inner grey square floating in the center. It's like a quiet, meditative space, pulling you in. I'm reminded of Agnes Martin's subtle grids and fields of color. Both artists use simplicity to create a feeling of calm and contemplation, showing us that sometimes, less really is more. Antonakos invites us to find beauty in the bare essentials.