Sequenze quadrangolari - concetto di distorsione 1964

Mario Ballocco made this with what appears to be enamel paint, with a steady hand, and a keen eye for colour. Look at the way these squares shift and repeat: It's like Ballocco is exploring the very nature of perception. I can imagine him, brush in hand, carefully plotting each line, each square, wrestling with the challenge of creating a sense of depth and movement on a flat surface. The tones of red create a weird push and pull—like something receding and something advancing all at once. You know, it reminds me of some of Josef Albers' work, in the way he used color and form to play tricks on the eye. Artists like Ballocco and Albers are in constant dialogue, each pushing the boundaries of what painting can do, what it can make us feel. And it reminds me that painting is like an invitation to really see and feel the world in new ways.