Untitled 1970

This ‘Untitled’ painting was made by Ray Parker, and it looks like he’s having a conversation with colour on canvas. The colours feel so considered, don’t they? Like each one was placed with intention. I love the way the blue and pink forms squiggle across this ground of lavender, and how the colours shift with the light. You can see the physical way that the paint sits on the canvas. The brushstrokes are soft, almost transparent. It makes me think about the history of abstract expressionism, and how Parker might have been reacting to the macho gestures of someone like Pollock. Look at the curves, the way they dance around each other. It’s not about perfection, it’s about feeling. It makes me think of Matisse’s cut-outs, but with a softer, more playful touch. It’s a reminder that art is a dialogue, an ongoing conversation between artists across time. There is no definitive reading, just a space for interpretation.