When pondering over the idea of the simplest abstract works that convey the deepest of ideas, my mind comes to one artist: Mark Rothko. His beautiful yet simple works appear at first glance to be nothing more than a few colors, minimally placed on a canvas. But that is the magic of them. Rothko’s simplicity is meant to provoke deeper emotions in his work’s observers, demanding an active encounter that sparks deep, and distinct feelings in each individual commentator. Many of his seemingly plain canvases are created with multiple layers of different colors, providing them a certain glow that changes with more observation. One of his most famous exhibitions lies in Houston’s Rothko Chapel. Its series of black canvases call upon many spectators daily who view this non-denominational establishment as quite spiritual, a place to find deeper meaning about oneself.
2020 Foundations 