Hexagon with turquoise lines 1980

Florin Maxa made this painted hexagon with turquoise lines. The colors are muted, verging on drab, and the lines are sharp, like a technical drawing. But up close you can see the wobble in the lines, the way the paint is applied thinly, in layers, almost like washes. This is painting as a process, a meditation in shape and color. The physical quality of the paint is really important, it’s not about hiding the hand but about revealing it. Look at the way the turquoise pools in the corners of the brown, it gives real depth to the piece, defying the flatness of the surface. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin’s subtle grids. Both artists use geometry as a way to explore something much more organic and intuitive. Ultimately, it’s about the pleasure of looking.