Mystery History 2010

David Michael Hinnebusch made this painting, Mystery History, using mixed media on canvas. Looking at it, I’m struck by the way he’s built up the surface – there’s a real sense of layering and reworking, like he’s digging into a personal history. I love the pinks, they add this raw, childlike feel against the black lines that carve out the horse and rider. Check out the lower left corner, where the artist’s name is scrawled repeatedly, like a mantra. It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s work, with that same sense of restless energy and poetic mark-making. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about the messy, beautiful process of trying to make sense of things. And that’s something I can totally get behind.