Published work / STRATA
NEXUS
Horizontal Composition of Spatial Tension over a Deep Green Field
- Medium
- Óleo y acrílico sobre lienzo
- Size
- 47.2 × 31.5 in / 120 × 80 cm
- Series
-
STRATA
Painting series
STRATA
Maurizio Valch's STRATA series features contemporary abstract painting, showcasing artwork with stratified surfaces. Crafted with acrylic and oil on canvas, this series stands out for its dense chromatic fields and profound incisions, evoking an inner, archetypal territory. View series
- Orientation
- Horizontal
- Context studies
- 8
Conceptual Note
The composition of "STRATA VII — NEXUS," a contemporary abstract painting by Maurizio Valch, invites visual immersion into a deep space. Set against a vast dark green field, the interplay between the color's stillness and the asymmetrical arrangement of elements creates a unique spatial tension. Evenly distributed light allows the chromatic intensity of the green to serve as a backdrop for the emerging forms.
Three rectangular blocks, rendered in vibrant carmine with turquoise blue accents, reveal a clear material texture through impasto and possible scraping. These shapes appear to float or settle upon the field, accompanied by darker 'shadows' or 'reflections' that suggest a duality between surface and depth. Two thin, wavy white lines traverse the canvas, introducing an organic element that contrasts with the blocks' geometry and establishes subtle horizons or fluid divisions.
This artwork is part of Maurizio Valch's STRATA series, exploring the surface as a territory of origin and transformation. The tension between the geometric and organic, and the spatial ambiguity of the blocks, evoke the stratification and elemental presence that characterize the artist's ongoing exploration. Its horizontal format of 120 x 80 cm establishes a contained and contemplative presence, offering a quiet focal point in any architectural space.
In NEXUS, the vast dark green field functions as an immersive space where the sheer chromatic intensity of the color becomes a primary vehicle for sensory experience. By utilizing this expansive, quiet backdrop to set off the asymmetrical elements, the work channels the approach of Mark Rothko, wherein reduced forms and deep color fields combine to create a silent, contemplative atmosphere. This vast expanse is subtly organized by two thin, wavy white lines that traverse the canvas, acting as delicate, organic pathways. Reflecting the spatial divisions of Barnett Newman, these minimal linear interventions break the stillness of the green field, transforming the open space into a structured arena of fluid divisions and subtle horizons. Emerging from this atmospheric space are three rectangular blocks of vibrant carmine and turquoise blue, which anchor the composition through their heavy, physical presence. The textured impasto and scraped surfaces of these blocks recall the compact, tactile forms of Nicolas de Staël, balancing pure abstraction with a tangible spatial tension as they float and settle on the canvas. Their dual nature as both flat geometric shapes and suggestive shadows or reflections creates a spatial ambiguity and stratification that defines the work's territorial depth.