Untitled 1994

This untitled painting by Tiberiy Szilvashi is made from blocks of colour laid next to one another with minimal blending. The piece feels like a meditation on colour itself. Here, the blue is applied in layers, with visible brushstrokes that add texture and depth. Look at the top left corner. See how the brown shape almost floats? The way Szilvashi has feathered the edge makes it feel lighter than it is. The red on the right side is a jolt. These three colours are so elemental, like a primary chord in music. Szilvashi’s work reminds me of Mark Rothko, but with a slightly rougher edge. Both artists share an interest in the emotional power of colour, but where Rothko goes for transcendence, Szilvashi keeps it grounded. There's something very honest about the way the paint is applied; it’s not about perfection, but about the process of seeing and feeling.