Arctic

Creative rationale

Over the Arctic Ocean at the prime meridian, where frigid waters meet unstable atmospheric conditions, this composition captures the raw energy of strong northwestern winds cutting through low pressure systems. The extremely cold temperature of 7.3°C drives a palette toward muted earth tones with icy accents, while the moderate wind speed of 16.6 m/s creates energetic splatters that push color toward the edges, leaving luminous breathing space in the center. The high humidity and trace precipitation manifest as dense, saturated color pools that accumulate at the canvas boundaries, embodying Sam Francis's characteristic tension between explosive gesture and contemplative void.