Grille en quatre 1968

Here is Samuel Buri's 'Grille en quatre', a painting that vibrates with life through its complex, colorful geometry. The real buzz comes from Buri's application of paint; he’s built this up in layers, so the surface has real depth and texture, like a relief. It’s not just flat color, each mark feels like an individual decision, but collectively they make up a coherent whole. The yellow ground is particularly interesting, almost shimmering with the dots of complimentary colors. Looking at the center of the canvas, where the four panels meet, Buri has created shapes like kaleidoscopic flowers. Each panel of color seems to nestle against another, making the whole piece work. The geometry is almost Islamic in its detail, yet Buri’s painting feels more playful. It reminds me of Bridget Riley’s exploration of optical effects or maybe, even, some of the abstract patterns of Gustav Klimt. Buri makes us see the world not as it is, but as a field of endless possibilities.