Murmuring Ban 2017

David Michael Hinnebusch made this small but mighty square painting called Murmuring Ban. The image looks like it came into being through layering, maybe with some struggle, and definitely intuition. I feel like I can picture Hinnebusch making this, moving between the window on the left and the figure on the right. I imagine that he worked quickly, allowing the paint to drip and run, letting the different colors intermingle and create new shades and textures. The surface is alive with energy. I'm drawn to how the red drips over the blue form, and how the black lines define the figure. It's like the painting is trying to tell a story, but it's up to us to piece it together. It puts me in mind of other painters, like Basquiat. Artists like these are in a conversation with each other. It's a back and forth across time, inspiring and pushing each other forward. It’s like the artist is saying something, but we have to listen closely to catch the murmurs.