Using
watercolors on handmade washi paper—are complex, lyrical, and moody, conjuring
vistas of the natural world and the principles that define the movement and
transformation of materials. Vibrant hues are overlaid with shimmering
metallics; extremes of light and dark are juxtaposed in close proximity,
creating surprising moments of chiaroscuro; and vein-like arrangements of great
delicacy are organized into overarching passages notable for their graphic
power. Throughout, Gilliam emerges as a virtuoso conductor, able to coax his
materials into arresting compositions without sacrificing their inherent
mutability and force. These paintings on paper reveal his range and ambition
and help cement his status as one of the greatest living proponents of the
power of abstraction.