Diptych 1991

Sean Scully made this print, “Diptych,” and he's clearly thinking about painting as a process, as construction. The way the blocks of colour are laid down suggests a real interest in the materiality of the paint itself. Take that deep brown block on the left. It’s so earthy, so grounded. And then there's the little window cut out of it, filled with those cool, silvery lines. The paint application isn't trying to trick you into thinking its anything other than what it is - areas of colour on a flat surface. It’s honest and straightforward, you get a real sense of the hand. It reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, with its quiet, meditative quality, but with a more robust, muscular energy. Art is a conversation, and Scully is definitely adding his own voice to the mix. It’s a space for ambiguity, allowing for multiple readings.