Painting #92131 1992

Rudolf de Crignis made this piece, Painting #92131, with what seems like graphite on paper, and it's all about a really considered, quiet process. It's a square within a rectangle, a drawing of a shape on a page from a notepad. What gets me is the surface, the way the graphite is laid down so evenly, like a cloud of tone, creating this feeling of depth and texture. Look closely at how the marks build up, each one a tiny contribution to the overall effect. It's like he's breathing life into the paper, one gentle breath at a time. The square has a life of it's own, existing in the realm of minimalism but in dialogue with Arte Povera. I'm reminded of Agnes Martin, but where she works with very, very fine lines and colour, de Crignis's work is about the subtle gradations of tone and the physicality of the medium. It's an ongoing conversation, each artist adding their voice to the mix, exploring the possibilities of abstraction and process.