Starry Night 1994

Joan Witek’s Starry Night, is an intriguing artwork of ink on paper. What strikes me here is the immediacy and the process, the ink almost seems to bloom across the page. There's a real physicality to it, isn't there? The stark black ink against the white creates a high contrast, a visual punch. Looking closely, you can see how the ink pools and spreads, creating these organic, almost floral shapes, but I love how it also looks a little like an astronomical chart. Take that large form in the bottom left corner, the ink bleeds out, almost as if she were chasing the edge of a stain. Witek often works with a limited palette and a sense of seriality, and this piece is no exception. It reminds me a little of Vija Celmins' night skies, that same dedication to rendering something vast and unknowable with such care and precision. Ultimately, the beauty of art lies in its ability to hold multiple meanings.