Structures Monochromes Rouges: D 1960

This monochromatic red field was created by Bernard Aubertin, using, it seems, hundreds of matchsticks. Isn't that something? Up close, you can see the texture, the slight variations in color and the gentle relief that makes the surface of the painting thrum with energy. It's this feeling of an endless field, and the knowledge of the labor that went into it, that really gets to me. Each matchstick, a tiny gesture, repeated and repeated until it becomes something else entirely. The all-over composition reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, but there’s also something about the use of everyday materials and the intense, singular focus that chimes with the Arte Povera movement. All these associations and the gorgeous redness, create a space for contemplation. And isn't that what art is all about?