Dyson's Paintings Blur Art's Dimensions

Torkwase Dyson's latest exhibition, 'Seeing in Blue,' is currently on display at Pace Gallery through October 24. The show features 13 paintings that challenge the conventional separation of painting and sculpture. Dyson achieves a remarkable physical depth within her two-dimensional works, often creating an illusion that transcends the canvas.

The paintings present layered, translucent color fields, primarily in dark hues with subtle undertones of red, blue, or green. Over these abstract backgrounds, Dyson applies geometric lines, curves, and star-like dots using various tools. Additional elements, such as brass or bronze 'hardware' and taut strings, are affixed to the canvases, further enhancing their dimensionality and evoking nautical or astronomical charts.

These visual cues, including pennant shapes and lines resembling sea charts, invite viewers to interpret the works through lenses of both maritime and celestial exploration. While not literal depictions, these allusions, coupled with the unique construction of the pieces, encourage a deeper engagement with the surfaces, akin to gazing into the night sky or the sea's expanse. Dyson's mastery of acrylics creates a compelling shimmer and ambiguity, drawing viewers into the perceived depth of her art.