Arctic

Creative rationale

Over the Arctic Ocean north of eastern Siberia, in the Chukchi Sea region where extreme cold meets atmospheric turbulence. The extraordinarily low pressure of 919.7 hPa creates violent spatial compression, driving aggressive slashing marks that press against the picture plane with brutal force. The bitter 14.4°C temperature (-258°F) transforms de Kooning's typical flesh palette into icy greys and blacks punctuated by shocking bursts of cadmium yellow, while the high humidity and precipitation create diluted color runs that slice through thick gestural passages like arctic wind cutting through exposed surfaces.