IMAGE:28 2019

Thomas Riesner made this approximately 30 x 20 cm painting using bold red and black brushstrokes. The way the image is put together, all loose and drippy, makes me think about how much artmaking is a process of letting go. The paint isn't trying to hide itself; it's right there on the surface, thick in some places, thinner in others, all raw and unfiltered. Look at the figure's hands, how the brushstrokes jut out like claws, kind of menacing but also awkward, like when you're trying to be cool but your real self peeks through. That one simple stroke that defines the right leg is quite something. It’s as if Riesner is saying, hey, this is just paint, but it's also something else, something kinda scary but also completely vulnerable. I'm reminded a little of Francis Bacon's raw vulnerability, but with a bit more punk rock energy. Ultimately, art doesn't have to spell everything out for you. Sometimes it's more interesting when it leaves you with questions instead of answers.