Deep Six 1979

Gene Davis made this lively work, Deep Six, in 1976 using, it seems, pencil and crayon. Imagine him, leaning over the paper, maybe on a table, or perhaps it was pinned to a wall—drawing, erasing, and then drawing some more. It’s not about perfection, it’s all about action. There’s a pale sky, like a memory, and the rest looks a bit like code. The dashes and dots remind me of a frantic telegram, a language both urgent and secretive. The whole thing feels like a visual translation of thoughts—quick, fleeting, and a little bit chaotic. It’s fascinating how simple marks can communicate so much. Davis isn't just making marks; he's mapping out a landscape of ideas, turning the surface of the paper into a playground for his mind. I get a sense of connection to Cy Twombly’s mark making, a celebration of the spontaneous gesture that invites endless interpretations.