Drawing No. 5 1972

Keith Martin made this drawing in 1972, using graphite, ink, and watercolor. It's on paper, and the first thing that strikes me are these strange, monumental forms kind of hovering in space. I can imagine Martin’s hand moving across the page, building up these shapes bit by bit. They're like architectural ruins, or maybe organic forms fossilized over time. There’s an element of chance here too - the splatters of watercolor add an atmospheric quality, like a landscape fading into mist. What was he thinking as he made this? Looking closely, the texture in the drawing feels really interesting. There are hard, precise lines against these softer, smudged areas. I love how he balances control with accident, that's the secret. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural fantasies, but with a more biomorphic twist. Ultimately, art’s like a relay race through time. Each artist picks up the baton and runs with it.