Eduardo Gruber | Santander, Spain
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The Black Object, 1991
oil on canvas, 140x140cmThe black stain, also the source for the title of this artwork, is the focus of attention. It gives the otherwise light painting weight. In contrast to the stain, a large complex structure of incredible translucency has been composed in the middle of the painting. Within this rectangle at least two other spaces emerge. Fine demarcations that may suggest openings can be seen; one near and one in the distance. Perhaps they serve as a metaphorical way into the painting.
Contemplating this artwork it might be helpful to us to adopt the artist’s point of view that incertitude is the basis for creation; walking the road to the unknown.
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Vertex, 1991
oil on canvas, 200x200cmThe size of this artwork makes for an impressive viewing experience. A striking double lined pyramid takes centre stage. The outer or second pyramid is mostly hidden. Dark grey and blue tones dominate the scene but the painterly background is broken up by light entering from the top of the composition.
The pyramid is a universally recognised shape and a powerful emblem of cult and worship in many ancient civilisations. The Egytian pyramids immediately spring to mind, but all over the world there exist examples of such ancient monuments. Remembering this, the painting may allude to a secret inner sanctuary. The large square in the background could be interpreted as a divide or gateway from the tangible to the intangible or that which could be termed as our inner self or ancestral past*.
*See Carl Yung’s theories for the collective unconsciousness.