Micro-Painting 1968

Curator: So, here we have Gene Davis’s “Micro-Painting” from 1968, a piece created using acrylic paint. Editor: It’s remarkably tiny. It almost resembles a colour swatch, that has been magnified—assertive in its bold blocks of green, blue and red. It definitely feels intimate and strangely... tactile. Curator: That tactile sense likely comes from Davis’s handling of the material and the scale. The application of acrylic paint is crucial. His engagement with it almost feels sculptural—defying typical modernist painting through an elevation of what is involved in production. Editor: That resonates. I find myself contemplating its presence within the political climate of 1968, a period defined by activism and calls for change. Did the scale of the work respond to that in some way, a counterpoint to the noise? Curator: Intriguing point. Scale often affects value within the art market—think of the grand scale of history paintings. But Davis, working amidst debates about production in art, seems to challenge these ingrained systems. It forces the viewer to contemplate its literal, almost commodity-like, nature. Editor: Precisely. By choosing a “micro” format and simple form, Davis bypasses established expectations. And despite its size, it sparks significant questions about artistic creation itself. It isn't some grand statement; it is right in your face! Curator: Absolutely. This piece allows the viewer to reflect on the inherent value embedded in artwork, based purely on the artist's meticulous labour. We almost witness his active making right here. Editor: I see now how the piece functions almost like an artifact; we engage with it in its particularity, with an awareness that artworks contain traces of a unique individual. Its unassuming presentation is deceptive because there's so much going on beneath. Curator: True. In the end, “Micro-Painting” stands as testament to how one artwork can create multiple complex dialogues. Editor: I completely agree. It reveals how simplicity of form and limited scale provide avenues for wider considerations that extend past visual appearance.