Schwarz-ohne-schwarz 2 2017

Lech Jankowski made this painting in a private studio with oil on canvas. The dominant colours in this painting are inky blues and greys. The canvas is heavily textured, almost like a topographical map. I imagine the artist in the studio, building up layers, scraping back, then adding more. See how the horizontal composition is bisected with a horizon line, it looks like a seascape at twilight. The upper portion is a cloudy sky with a few gestural birds, and the lower is a deep body of water, with hints of pink light. The title, "Schwarz-ohne-schwarz 2", translates to "Black-without-black 2", and is so evocative of the nature of this painting, where the artist rejects any pure or absolute form. This piece reminds me of other painters, like Gerhard Richter, who similarly explore the ambiguity and uncertainty of representation. Artists are in an ongoing dialogue with one another across time, inspiring new ideas and creative directions.