Week #51, Magic Markers IV

Untitled (Red and Orange Rectangles on Brown Ground), 1982, felt tip pen on paper, 5” x 8”.

Our fourth example in this series of felt tip pen works by Dusti Bongé once again uses a limited color palette. As in all three of the previous works, here too red is the principal hue, setting the tone for the whole piece. it is combined with the previously used, unexpected brown as tis companion color. But this time Dusti also introduces just enough of an orange accent, which not only makes the reds brilliant, but allows even the brown to appear luminous.

This work is very structured, although, slightly frenzied. With a horizontal row of vertically oriented rectangles steadily “marching” across the page it presents a kind of rhythmic parade. Each of these rectangles, which technically speaking are trapezoids, is outlined in black and filled with red. They have orange accents along their length emphasizing their verticality. And as we have seen before, Dusti again places a few short black dots and dashes in seemingly random spots.

Despite tits structure and rhythm, the work is very dynamic for several reasons. Each of the trapezoids is unique, some longer, some shorter, some darker, some lighter. Moreover, their spacing is irregular. There is a cluster of rectangular shapes dominating the left part of the work, within which some of them overlap. And then there is a lone rectangle on the right. Both these features impart a staccato effect to the whole.

Who knew brown and red could sing together like that!

Below is the set of four felt tip pen works.