Chance and Order II 1971 - 1972

Editor: So, this is Kenneth Martin’s "Chance and Order II," from the Tate collection. The lines feel both structured and…completely random, like a well-organized explosion. What do you make of this fascinating tension? Curator: It’s as if Martin is playing a game with us, isn't it? He sets up the rules of order—those neat, striped lines—then throws in the dice roll of chance. It reminds me of jazz, actually. The artist is improvising within a structure. Don’t you think? Editor: Absolutely, I see that. So, is it all about the push and pull, or is there something more? Curator: For me, it whispers about the underlying harmony in what appears chaotic. The colours sing together, even as the lines clash. Perhaps it is about embracing the unexpected. What a blast of sunshine on a cloudy day this piece has been. Editor: I agree, it’s made me see things in a new, brighter light.