Agnes Martin’s Friendship is a stunning piece, and is unusual when compared to her other works. Though the grid pattern is typical for Martin, who’s work focuses on serenity and balance, the majority of her practice tend to lean towards pastels and blues, and more muted pastel tones. The monumental gold piece has a very different impact, bringing to mind the role that gold has played in the art world since antiquity; from icons and relics to golden adornments, it has been a color associated with spirituality and power for millennia.
The warm surface of gold casts a buttery yellow light, softly illuminating the floor. Perhaps this effect is exactly what Martin had intended when she titled the piece Friendship. Light and spirituality often have adjoining roles in art, offering the viewer a quiet and contemplative space.
brittany baldwin 