Photo-souvenir: Monochrome électrique – Bleu B2 & Vert B3, travail situé 2012

These vibrant monochromes in electric blue and green, were made by Daniel Buren as a photo-souvenir in order to remind the viewer of its original installation. The vertical stripes of colour fall downwards, pooling at the bottom of each plane, as if the colour is leaking into the room itself. The material itself seems like it is glowing, and you can see that the paint has been thinly applied, translucent so we can see the canvas texture beneath. This allows the light to be reflected through, making the colours almost luminous. The texture of these works is so present; the vertical lines create a sense of movement, like static on a screen. It reminds me of the way Barnett Newman used zips in his paintings. Buren's work, much like painting, is all about a conversation. He is responding to the architectural space, to the history of painting, and to the very act of seeing. Like many artists who work with colour, he is asking us to look closely, to question our assumptions, and to embrace the endless possibilities of art.