By Phil Hutinet, HillRag
October 3, 2023
The exhibition [at Hemphill] commences with a selection of paintings from 1951 and 1953, accompanied by a series of paintings on paper that illuminate the rapid evolution of Kainen’s innovative abstract style. Notably the masterpiece “Mr. Kafka” (1970) draws its creative impulse from suspended clothing, crafting a compelling representation of the human form. This composition became a recurring motif, revisited by Kainen in various sketches and etchings. Throughout the ensuing decades, particularly the 1970s and 1980s, Kainen navigated between periods of lyrical and geometric abstraction, employing meticulous layering techniques to craft compositions that evoke ethereal, floating elements.
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