0 0 0 1999

Herman de Vries made this drawing, 0 0 0, with graphite on paper. It looks like a bunch of tiny, wiggly donuts are floating across the page. I like how simple it is; just the paper and the graphite. The artist's hand is so present. You can see the slight variations in pressure, the way some of the marks are darker, more insistent. Others are like barely-there whispers. It's like each one is a little breath, a tiny moment recorded. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grid paintings, the way she used repetition to create a kind of meditative space. Except, these aren't perfect grids, they're much looser, more organic. I think what's cool about this piece, is that de Vries is saying something about art's openness. It doesn't tell you what to think or feel. It's up to you to bring your own stuff to it.