Banner of Peace 1931

Nicholas Roerich made this banner of peace; its blues and whites giving off glacial vibes. I can imagine Roerich layering thin washes of color, building up these misty mountains, with each layer a meditation. Look at that symbol emblazoned on the rock – what do you think he was thinking when he painted it? Maybe about the interconnectedness of things, or the search for some universal truth? I feel a kinship with him! Like Agnes Martin, Roerich uses a limited palette, yet it opens up a vast emotional space. It's like he's whispering, "Hey, there's more to see than meets the eye," inviting us to contemplate the unseen forces that shape our world. We painters are all magpies; we see something, grab it, and make it our own. Roerich, Martin, me, you – we’re all in conversation, bouncing ideas off each other, across time and space. That’s what painting is, an ongoing exchange, open to endless interpretations.