Pace Gallery opened their new space on Hanover Square with this exhibition, Mark Rothko 1968: Clearing Away. It’s a rare opportunity to see smaller, more intimate works on paper.
Rothko specified that his work should be viewed at a distance of 18 inches (45cm). The gallery has laid down ridges on the floor at just that distance enabling the viewer to get close (but not too close).
Seeing these works gives an insight into his painting techniques. Photographs can only give an indication of colour and texture but some of my shots show his mark-making in detail.
You can see how he layered colours, sometimes painting white over a base to let another colour sing out, as he did for the grey and orange above.
Painting on paper is a very different experience to canvas as colour sinks into the surface. You can really see the difference here.
