“It often reminds me of the autofocus of a digital camera, which doesn’t know what to do with a silver painting’s surface when I’m trying to document the work. It goes in and out, unable to separate the painting’s present surroundings from the object itself.” JACOB KASSAY
Jacob Kassay is a master of revival and reinvention, as he states "There's no reason that we can't go back to the past and rehash ideas that maybe you thought weren't complete." (Kassay to A. Walleston, ‘Jacob Kassay: History’s Mirror’, Art in America, 6 October 2011). In the present lot, Untitled (2009) Kassay’s unabashed dedication to a galvanized canvas remains apparent, presenting exquisite variations on a theme evocative of minimalist practices and monochromatic painting is paired with the industrialized sheen of the artist’s hand. The nature of the work’s medium accentuates the brushstrokes, providing just enough variation to see the artist’s presence. The piece achieves physicality beyond that of a painting, reminiscent of the works produced by Carl Andre and Donald Judd. Kassay’s Untitled breathes in the presence of its audience by refusing to hanging passively on the wall. The metallic mantel anticipates the reflection of its surroundings, yet upon approach, reality is blurred by its matte finish. Kassay states, “With the paintings, this blurring reminds you that there are other things that are informing the work which are atmospheric. The surface of the work moves into attention and recedes from it, always oscillating.” (Kassay in Alex Bacon, 'In Conversation: Jacob Kassay with Alex Bacon', The Brooklyn Rail, 18 December 2013)