Michael Klein

December 03, 2012, 8:30am

Cy Twombly: The Last Paintings

Cy Twombly
The Last Paintings
Gagosian Gallery, November 1 – December 22, 2012

Explaining Twombly’s work is a little like trying to explain Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. There is a stated formula and an equation that we are all readily familiar with but unless you  can decode the terms of the equation you are lost. Similarly we decode Twombly’s brush because it is his tool. For Twombly his equation was that paint was like language: it described the world rather than simply made pictures of it. - Michael Klein, New York Contributor

June 18, 2012, 8:25am

Other Voices: Squeak Carnwath

Squeak Carnwath mixes familiar and recognizable images-think New Image painting- within a smart, sharp fields of patterns built of numbers and colors then overlaid with words. Carnwath's fields look conceptual; they are methodical in structure like an algebraic formula on a  blackboard but then suffused with thoughts that stand out-a translation of her internal dialogue out loud onto the canvas for all to see.  Like Mel Bochner's recent language paintings and prints, or Joseph Kosuth's room size neon sculpture, Carnwath has been using words for many decades.