Ifrit 2014

Gerhard Richter made this painting, "Ifrit," by pouring enamel paint onto a photograph. It’s a wild mix of chance and control. The surface is so shiny and slick; the colors are like explosions, reds and yellows oozing into blues and purples. Look at that area on the right, those cascading lines; it's like a waterfall of pure color. You can almost feel the paint sliding down, the way it pools and blends, defying gravity. It's mesmerizing, really. Richter's abstractions always remind me of something, but I can never quite put my finger on what. It feels like he's tapping into something primal, maybe a force of nature. Agnes Martin and Richter both share an interest in the material qualities of painting and how those materials affect our perception. But while Martin’s work is all about restraint, Richter's embraces chaos. It’s like he's saying, "Let's see what happens when we let go."