Signal series 1958

This piece is from Yuri Zlotnikov's Signal series, done with paint on what looks like paper. The artist seems really interested in exploring how we organize information. I’m drawn to the way Zlotnikov uses these basic shapes—circles and lines—almost like a code. The surface has this quality like you could reach out and touch it, feeling the little bumps and edges of the paint. Look at the little blue ‘L’ shapes, placed asymmetrically. They are so carefully considered, like each placement is a calculated move. Zlotnikov reminds me a bit of Hilma af Klint, another artist interested in these kinds of symbolic languages. But where Klint gets all mystical, Zlotnikov keeps it grounded, focusing on the pure visual language of form and color. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to explain everything; sometimes, it’s more about opening up a space for questions.