Maurizio Valch Abstract Painting / Territory and Thought
Vertical abstract painting. A dominant field of deep indigo blue covers the surface, traversed by fine, incised white lines forming diagonal and horizontal patterns. Four irregular rectangular blocks of intense red are positioned within the blue. The canvas texture is visible beneath the layered paint.
STRATA XII — SUBMERSA, an artwork by Maurizio Valch from the STRATA series, exploring matter and memory through chromatic fields of deep indigo blue, red blocks, and incised lines on canvas.
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

Matter and Depth in an Intimate Territory

Size
31.5 × 47.2 in / 80 × 120 cm
Series
STRATA Painting series STRATA 2026–Present · 10 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
Context studies
5

Conceptual Note

A silent tension permeates the surface of Maurizio Valch's 'STRATA XII — SUBMERSA.' The profound depth of its color is achieved through a meticulous process of layering and glazes, where acrylic and oil on canvas build dense chromatic fields. Incisions cut across the canvas, functioning as traces or marks that delineate and connect the space. This material construction technique evokes the sedimentation of experiences and the formation of memory etched into the pictorial territory.

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The chromatic palette centers on a deep, almost abyssal indigo blue, punctuated by four irregular blocks of intense red. These compact forms, arranged asymmetrically, stand out against the dark ground, creating focal points of vivid energy. Fine, incised white lines, straight or subtly curved, act as spatial divisions or fragmented maps, charting internal pathways. The worked surface offers a tactile texture, reminiscent of tanned hides or the earth's crust, keeping the focus on the painting's inherent materiality.

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The resulting vertical space suggests an immersion into an interior and archetypal territory, a place where matter and memory intertwine. The red blocks, like hardened structures or monolithic vestiges, appear to emerge from or submerge into the vast blue expanse, creating a dynamic interplay between what is visible and what is concealed. This deep dimensionality does not represent an external landscape, but rather a site of appearance and transformation.

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Thus, the artwork conveys a contained and contemplative atmosphere, inviting a deliberate reading of its strata. It presents a subtle interplay between the stillness of the background and the energy of the forms, between unfathomable depth and the tangible presence of the surface. This piece positions itself at the intersection of minimalist abstract art and a brutalist sensibility, possessing a strong identity and an unmistakable spatial presence.