Sanné Mestrom: Black paintings

Sanné Mestrom’s Black paintings, made from undyed spun wool mounted on steel frames, derive from a series of minimal abstract paintings by the American painter Frank Stella from the 1960s. Flat, imposing, and with a masculine edge, Stella’s works exemplify the influential theory of modernism proposed by American critic Clement Greenberg – that painting was progressively refined to its surface qualities. Conversely, Mestrom’s series celebrates the rough texture and comforting qualities of wool and the associated notions of weaving as a feminine craft. Stella’s canvases are re-posed as endearing sculptural objects and installations, complemented by a series of gouache paintings.