Intense blue-gray portal III, 1 1967

Gianni Piacentino made this portal, "Intense blue-gray portal III, 1," and it's not just about the thing itself, but about how we look at things. It's all about surface, with a color that shifts as you move around it. Look closely and you'll notice a subtle play of light, a soft haze. It's intense and airy, like a twilight sky just before dark, or that moment when you’re not sure if you’re awake or dreaming. The paint is smooth, like it's been buffed to perfection. It’s kind of seductive! The whole piece makes me think about doors as invitations but also barriers. It makes me think of the work of Donald Judd. Is it a painting, is it sculpture? I don’t know. Is it a way in, or a way to keep things out? Maybe it is both.