As I watched the visitors disappear one by one into Rothko’s color fields, I began to wonder if light was, in fact, the greatest unifier of all—a universal truth in a world of fractured realities. My jet-lagged eyes fluttered and shifted in and out of focus as they peered through the layers of pigments like refractions of atmospheric fog. Somewhere in there was the accurate silence that Rothko once described— zen, a totality of everything and nothing, a form of escapism and transcendence—an experience I welcomed amidst the swarms of patrons on the gallery floors. Told in chronological order and featuring some 115 works, the retrospective tells the story of how Markus Rothkowitz became Rothko through a lifetime of experimentation and distillation to, in his words, “raise painting to the level of poignancy of music and poetry.” I had never traveled this far for an exhibition before, and as I emerged 4 hours later into the rainy streets of Paris with a fresh dose of nicotine pumping through my veins, I thanked my instincts for bringing me there. Witnessing the affective influence of Rothko’s work gave me a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration for my practice. It showed me the power of seeing and, in the process, the potential of being. “Art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explored only by those willing to take the risk.”, the master once said. This exhibition- and indeed, my path as an artist- is succinctly that. On view through April 2nd, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the totality of Rothko’s work, a gift from @fondationlv and the show’s curators. Pro-tip. Get timed tickets online and get there early; the secret is out. 🛫🏃🏻🔥 💌 PS. If you can’t make it, the $50 catalog available on Amazon is the next best thing. #rothko #markrothko #abstractexpressionism #colorfieldpainting #fondationlouisvuitton #colorandlight #artwatchers_united #abex #abstractart #modernart #artmuseum