1965/1 - ∞, Detail 868149-893746 1971

In 1965, Roman Opalka embarked on an epic, infinite series of paintings with white numbers on a gray canvas. Can you imagine painting numbers, one by one, in a sequence? What I find compelling is his commitment to time. He continued this process until his death in 2011, gradually adding white to the background with each canvas. It’s like he’s painting time itself. Each number, carefully rendered, is a marker of a moment lived, a breath taken. The surface isn't just a surface; it's a record. The repetition reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids, or On Kawara’s date paintings – artists using seriality to map existence. Opalka's act feels philosophical, a meditation on aging, infinity, and the human condition. It's a reminder that art can be a journey, not just a destination.