The crown of my house 2007

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this intriguing black ink wash painting, "The Crown of my House," on paper. The painting came into being through the artist's trial and error. I can imagine him making marks with the brush, pausing, reflecting and then making another mark. The crown sits above the roots, it's almost as if the artist had the idea of inverting a tree. Perhaps it’s a reflection on our perceptions of power and the foundations we build. What I appreciate is Krupa's exploration into what it is to be ‘king’ or have authority. The ink runs in rivulets from the side. The artist has laid bare the bones of authority and status, almost suggesting it is arbitrary. As an artist, he is in conversation with the long tradition of painters who have considered similar questions. Every artwork is a record of creative exchange that embraces ambiguity.