1 1973

Curator: Richard Smith, born in 1931, created this work, simply titled '1', with dimensions of 505 by 703 millimetres. Editor: Well, right away, it whispers 'ephemeral' to me. That hazy blue and the way the paper seems to float… it's like a half-remembered dream. Curator: Indeed. Smith's technique emphasizes layering and transparency. Note how the grid structure contrasts with the more gestural marks. Editor: Those marks feel almost like rain, or maybe even tears. The little fasteners holding it all together – such a delicate tension between chaos and control. Curator: Formally, the work interrogates the relationship between surface and depth, line and plane. The restricted palette further enhances the interplay. Editor: And that little peek-a-boo square in the middle! It’s like a concentrated burst of emotion. It really brings it all home. Curator: Yes. It seems that Smith challenges us to consider how structure and freedom coexist in the artistic expression. Editor: So much to ponder in such a seemingly simple work. What a beautiful contradiction.