928 Antipode King 1991

Friedensreich Hundertwasser made this painting, 928 Antipode King, using what looks like oil on canvas, and it's a wild ride of color and form, isn't it? I can imagine Hundertwasser approaching the canvas with a sense of play, layering colors and shapes with a kind of intuitive freedom. The checkerboard background, for example, is flattened and graphic, but then look at the King's body—it’s all swirly and organic. It's a process of building up, scraping away, and then building up again. The surface must be quite textured, which would add another layer of depth and visual interest. The blue spirals at the centre almost vibrate with energy. Do you see them too? They remind me that painting isn’t just about representation, it’s about feeling. I think Hundertwasser probably looked at a lot of different art, ancient and modern. Artists are always having a conversation with each other across time and space, borrowing ideas, and riffing on each other’s creativity. And for me, this piece embraces ambiguity, inviting multiple interpretations and meanings. It’s a painting that stays alive, changing with each viewing.