P. 449 1967

This is a painting by Gottfried Honegger, called P.449, and it is a warm bath of burnt sienna. You can sense the artist’s process in the translucent layers of paint, where Honegger has allowed the subtle grid beneath to faintly show through. If you step a little closer, you can see how the paint is applied in thin washes, allowing the texture of the surface to subtly affect the colour. The grid-like structure beneath the paint creates a subtle structure, it is almost like a memory that surfaces and fades. I love how the light catches the edges of these shapes. It’s like the painting is breathing. Honegger’s work reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, in the sense that both artists were interested in the grid as a way of exploring infinite space and the subtleties of colour and texture. But unlike Martin's cool serenity, Honegger brings something earthier and more human. For me, it is a reminder that art is less about answers and more about ongoing conversation.