Seeing in Blue- Torkwase Dyson

Pace Gallery, New York

In Seeing in Blue, Torkwase Dyson explores the relationship between water, space, and the human body through a series of abstract paintings. The body of work reflects water as an environmental condition that actively shapes movement, perception, and the ways viewers and perceivers occupy space.

What stands out most across the pieces is the tension between fluidity and geometry. Dyson's use of deep blues, layered surfaces, and subtle shifts in visible texture creates a sense of depth and movement (in a way reminiscent of Rothko), while precise lines and structured forms present a contrasting sense of control and precision. These compositions feel very architectural, resembling spatial studies about emotional atmospheres. The compositions are suggestive of seemingly unending environments being understood through systems of relational conditions like boundaries, structure, and constraints.

Another compelling aspect is the physicality of the work. The thickness of the canvases, the traces of dripping paint on the sides, and the way the surfaces project into the gallery space make them come across as inhabitable spatial extensions and not flat images. This encourages viewers to consider their own bodies in relation to the work, reinforcing the exhibition's interest in spatial experience.

The exhibition’s strength lies in its resistance to literal description. Dyson does not need to depict an underwater landscape to convey its disorienting qualities. Through contrasts between precision and fluidity, she makes looking feel exploratory. The result is a restrained and simultaneously absorbing exhibition that asks viewers to spend time being immersed in what they cannot immediately locate or fully understand.