The latest iteration of Mel Bochner’s iconic Thesaurus works show the artist achieving unprecedented physicality and material experimentation. Utilizing techniques developed at Two Palms, this new series takes a sculptural approach inside of what was previously painterly.

Rendered entirely as one sheet of cast paper, text seems to grow out of the background of the work, expanding several inches toward the viewer. This depth allows the artist to use light and shadow in such a way that they become part of the work, manipulating the paper’s colors.

Every piece in the series features the same text. Silence! Be Quiet! Can It! Cool It! The repetition encourages the viewer to consider how material, paper, color, light and shadow change the text’s meaning.