Il torneo a Valencia 1978

Antonio Corpora's "Il torneo a Valencia" is created with oil paint on canvas, a pairing that dominated easel painting for centuries. But Corpora treats the materials in a distinctly mid-20th century way. Notice the all-over composition, with no single point of focus; that's a legacy of abstract expressionism. Note too the energetic gestures, seemingly free and spontaneous. You might assume that Corpora worked quickly. But with oil paint, there are limits to speed. Each layer must dry before the next is applied. The white elements layered on top suggest they were added later. While apparently abstract, the painting’s title refers to a tournament in Valencia, Spain. This implies that the composition represents some kind of actual event, filtered through Corpora's sensibility. He wasn't just splattering paint, but carefully considering the relationship between perception, memory, and the physical properties of his chosen medium. The result is a work that rewards slow looking, and an appreciation for the considered application of paint.