Wheels of Fortune 1995

Arman made this painting, 'Wheels of Fortune', using thick, luscious strokes of colour like he was building something rather than just painting it. It's a riot of oranges, yellows, greens, and blues, colours that make the whole thing vibrate. The texture of this piece is intense, a tactile feast. You can almost feel the bristles of the brushes used, each loaded with pigment, leaving its mark. It's as though Arman was less concerned with concealing his process and more interested in celebrating it, showing every smear and dab. Look closely and you’ll see how he applied the paint in layers, building up depth and complexity. The brushes create a pattern, but it is the texture that gives the piece life. This work reminds me of the energy in some of Van Gogh’s paintings, particularly in his use of impasto to bring a surface alive. Ultimately, 'Wheels of Fortune' is an invitation to look beyond the surface and to consider the messy, unpredictable beauty of artmaking itself.