Composition II 2000

Ion Alin Gheorghiu made this painting, "Composition II," using oil paint. I can imagine him, starting with one blob, then another, trying to find the structure of a feeling or idea, rather than something representational. The colours are earthy, but not dull, like the world has been filtered through a playful sensibility. I like how the painting embraces uncertainty. You can see the marks, how the painting has emerged through trial and error, the artist maybe thinking aloud, working things out on the canvas. I wonder if, like me, he was thinking about all the painters who’ve come before and how they inspire him. Gheorghiu makes me think of Guston, for his interest in a world of forms, but also the CoBrA group for the childlike colour. Painting is this ongoing conversation, across time, across cultures, and Gheorghiu really embodies this spirit. It’s as though he’s saying: “I’m here, I’m part of this conversation, and I’m going to do it my way.”