Lewis deSoto
Security 2, 2003
Jacquard tapestry
82 x 49.5 in.

Lewis deSoto’s Security 2 transforms the pattern found inside a common envelope into a hypnotic field of abstract glyphs. Inspired by the harmony between the woven nature of the medium and the interlocking, repetitive structure of the envelope’s lining, deSoto inverted the envelope, both literally and conceptually, to produce a tapestry that invites contemplation as both an object and a signifier. What was once meant to conceal is here openly displayed and even celebrated for its visual character. As in the case of the inadvertently art-like color fields left behind by graffiti removal crews, deSoto reminds us that even the process of disguising expression inevitably generates a unique and intriguing expression of its own. -Nick Stone