La plume aveugle 1969

Ivan Tovar made "La plume aveugle" and the title already sets my mind racing. Just look at those strange shapes hovering in a kind of dream space, painted in a flat style reminiscent of surrealist masters. The color palette is muted, yet the forms are so bizarrely compelling. I wonder, what was Tovar thinking? I see the disembodied plume; maybe it stands for writing but what kind of writing? Perhaps the painting is a kind of stage and the objects are stand-ins for actors with assigned roles. There is also a strange combination of hard edges, shadows, and illusionistic depth that doesn’t quite convince. It’s a bit like looking at a stage set. Ultimately, what this painting does is remind me of the power of our collective imagination. It feels like Tovar is inviting us to play. He is inspiring future generations of painters and storytellers. It’s a strange and beautiful work that embraces ambiguity.