Four Red Symbols 1993

Dale Hickey’s ‘Four Red Symbols’ is an exercise in the application of paint onto canvas. It is deceptively simple. The canvas is meticulously coated in a matte black, providing a stark ground for the four red symbols that populate the picture plane. The symbols themselves, though familiar in shape, are rendered with a flatness that defies easy categorization. Are they emblems? Logos? Or merely shapes extracted from the visual noise of daily life? Hickey's process invites us to consider the labor involved, the careful application of paint, and the decisions regarding placement and scale. The matte surface absorbs light, minimizing distractions, and the four symbols, uniformly rendered, resist any hierarchy. The contrast between the deep black and the vibrant red creates a visual tension, activating the space between the symbols. Ultimately, Hickey’s work prompts us to look beyond the surface, questioning the role of the artist, the value of labor, and the complex relationship between the image and the world it reflects.