Jorge Eielson
Quipus 58 B
1966-68
Canvas and acrylic on wood
100.7 cm x 104.1 cm x 104.1 cm (39 5/8 in. x 41 in. x 41 in.)
Gift of John and Barbara Duncan, 1971

A quipu is an Andean counting or mnemonic device in which knotted strings record and carry data. Jorge Eielson's series of Quipu paintings brings this ancient tradition firmly into the contemporary world. At first glance this work appears to be an abstract composition reflecting the international taste for the clean surfaces and simple pattern of 1960s Minimalism. With the help of the title, the viewer comes to understand the more traditional nuances of the work, which are literally incorporated into the single knot of the canvas. Eielson's attempt to connect his deep interest in pre-Columbian art and ancient Andean cultures to his contemporary art practice has its roots in Joaquín Torres-García's philosophy of Universal Constructivism. This search for alternative models for abstract art in ancient indigenous cultures finds expression many times in the Blanton Museum's collection, such as in the works of Eielson's compatriot and contemporary Fernando de Szyszlo and in the later works of Argentine César Paternosto.