Number 5, 1948

Number 5, 1948
2.4m x 1.2m

 This is one of my earlier paintings in which I only just recently finalized my new style of drip painting. It’s not my favorite actually, I used so much colors. The first few layers had a majority of black and dark maroon and the later layers contained lighter colors such as bright yellow, blue and white. The bright colors are much more noticeable due to its distinct presence among the dull and dark background layers. Some people whom I showed it to told me that the yellow paint somehow made out my name “JACKSON POLLOCK”, congratulating me on the clever way I had signed off my painting.

I wasn’t aware such a thing even exist, what delusional people. However, what they don’t know won’t kill them. Most likely.

I hear ‘Number 5’ described as a dense bird nest, but honestly I thought of no such thing during my work session. I suppose the colors used indeed resemble that of wood and dense chaotic lines like those in this painting resemble forms of twigs. You can’t change people’s mindset overnight I guess, you can’t make them suddenly stop looking for forms in the painting even when I already named them something neutral like ‘Number 5’. This will take some time.