867-97 (Vulcano) 1997

Rupprecht Geiger made this circular painting, titled 867-97 (Vulcano), using a vibrant and bold color palette. It’s like he dove headfirst into the color lab and came up with this otherworldly crimson. I love the way Geiger lets the paint do its thing, especially at the bottom where the color is darker. There's a certain physicality to it, as if the paint itself is breathing. The texture isn't overly worked, but it's there, present, reminding us that this image came about through a material process. It reminds me a little of Yves Klein and his explorations of color, but Geiger's got his own thing going on. He's not just throwing paint around; he's creating a whole mood, an environment. It's all about the color and the way it makes you feel, kind of like staring into the heart of a volcano, intense and alive.