Navajoland 1972

David Chethlahe Paladin made this painting, Navajoland, using sand, and when I look at it, I get a feeling for his way of seeing. It’s all about a process of layering colors and textures to create a landscape that feels both familiar and totally dreamlike. The materiality of this work is fascinating. The grainy texture of the sand gives everything a tactile quality, like you could reach out and feel the earth. The colors are muted, almost pastel, which softens the harshness of the desert and turns it into something gentle and inviting. Look at the way the red sun hangs in the sky, a perfect circle of warmth against the cool gray background. It’s these contrasts that give the painting its emotional depth. I'm reminded of Agnes Martin, another artist who found beauty in simplicity and repetition, suggesting that art isn't about definitive statements but about opening up possibilities for seeing and feeling.