Maurizio Valch Abstract Painting / Territory and Thought
A vertical abstract painting featuring a deep indigo blue background with subtle chromatic variations. Four irregular rectangular blocks of textured crimson red are distributed asymmetrically across the surface. Fine, white incised lines traverse the canvas horizontally and diagonally, connecting the red blocks. The woven texture of the canvas is visible beneath the layered acrylic and oil paint.
SUBMERSA, from the STRATA series by Maurizio Valch. An exploration of matter and memory through a saturated indigo blue field, textured crimson blocks, and fine incised lines that structure the vertical space.
Vertical abstract painting by Maurizio Valch. Deep blue background with horizontal white incised lines. Three small vibrant red rectangular forms appear to float or be submerged. The artwork has a textured surface. It is displayed in an artist's studio, hung on a light wall, with a sofa and desk in the background.
STRATA XII — SUBMERSA explores the visual rhythm between deep blue and red forms, intersected by incised lines that generate spatial tension. An artwork by Maurizio Valch.
Close-up, slightly oblique view of Maurizio Valch's abstract painting "STRATA XII — SUBMERSA". A broad field of deep indigo blue covers most of the canvas. Fine, scraped white lines cross the surface in various directions. Three vibrant red rectangular blocks stand out against the blue background. The texture of the canvas and paint layers are visible, along with the continuation of the dark blue color on the artwork's side edge.
Detail of Maurizio Valch's "STRATA XII — SUBMERSA". The artwork features a deep blue field, red blocks, and incised lines, revealing a rich surface and chromatic continuity on the canvas edge.
Vertical abstract painting by Maurizio Valch, dominated by deep blue. It features several irregular quadrangular forms in vibrant crimson distributed in the center, and fine white lines crossing the canvas. The surface exhibits subtle textures and glazes. The artwork is displayed in a bright studio with glass ceilings, alongside easels and artist materials.
STRATA XII — SUBMERSA. An artwork by Maurizio Valch where deep blue and crimson forms interact with incised lines, evoking veiled territories and internal strata.
A vertical abstract painting in deep blue with thin white lines and four small rectangular red blocks. The artwork rests on a wooden floor against a light studio wall, with natural light and wooden furniture in the background.
Maurizio Valch's 'STRATA XII — SUBMERSA,' from the STRATA series, where deep blue and red forms interact in a field of tension and stillness.

Published work / STRATA

SUBMERSA

Stratification and Tension in Territorial Abstraction

Medium
Pintura
Size
31.5 × 47.2 in / 80 × 120 cm
Series
STRATA Painting series STRATA 2026–Present · 14 works 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
Vertical
Context studies
5

Conceptual Note

A dense expanse of saturated indigo blue extends vertically across the canvas, structured by fine white incisions that trace diagonal and horizontal paths. Through overlapping glazes of acrylic and oil, the surface reveals a constructive process where color is built from accumulated layers and precise scrapings, avoiding flat application.

Upon this deep chromatic field, four asymmetric blocks of textured crimson red rest as concentrated masses of physical paint. Their scale shifts from a subtle accent near the top to a more substantial volume at the base, creating a vibrant, magnetic contrast against the quiet background. The fine incised lines act as subtle fissures or territorial boundaries, linking these red forms and lending the surface a tactile quality that suggests weathered ground or a territory of memory.

The vertical orientation heightens a sense of progressive immersion, rendering the pictorial space as a dense and silent medium. Suspended in various stages of descent or emersión, the red blocks maintain a constant tension between what is concealed beneath the blue layers and what remains visible. This stratification avoids depicting literal geography, proposing instead a mental topography where matter functions as an archive of sedimented time.

With brutalist restraint and minimalist rigor, the artwork asserts itself through its asymmetric balance and contained chromatic vibration. Its visual strength lies in the economy of its elements and the quiet tension of its markings. By eschewing narrative explanations, the painting remains a silent, contemplative presence, suited for architectural spaces that value materiality and structural restraint.

The vertical orientation of SUBMERSA creates a progressive immersion where the dense, saturated indigo blue field, built from overlapping glazes, establishes a quiet, contemplative space. This immersive atmosphere aligns with the work of Mark Rothko, as the deep background functions as a silent, dense medium that relies on the emotional weight of color rather than flat application. Across this expansive field, the fine white incisions that trace horizontal and diagonal paths act as subtle linear divisions. These precise, scraped markings organize the chromatic field, embodying the spirit of Barnett Newman by transforming simple incisions into structural boundaries that link the textured red blocks and create a tense, quiet balance across the vertical surface. Finally, the four asymmetric blocks of textured crimson red rest as concentrated masses of physical paint, shifting in scale to establish a tactile contrast against the quiet indigo backdrop. These compact blocks echo the spatial tension of Nicolas de Staël, maintaining a constant state of suspension between what is concealed beneath the blue layers and what remains visible, anchoring the abstract composition with their physical weight.