Dynamic Universe I 1970

Romul Nutiu's 'Dynamic Universe I' is a painting that dives headfirst into process, as if the act of making is as important as any final image. The blues and blacks swirl together, creating depth, while the white peeks through, giving the eye a place to rest. Look at how the paint is applied; it’s thin in places, allowing the canvas to breathe, and thick in others, creating texture. There's a real physicality to it, you can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the surface. The dark band that snakes across the bottom left of the canvas anchors the composition, and provides a point of contrast to the riot of colour that bursts from the centre. It's raw and immediate. Nutiu reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, in the way he lets the paint do its thing, embracing the mess and ambiguity that comes with it. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t need to have all the answers; sometimes, it’s enough to just ask the questions.