The black cross is one of the classic emblems of Kazimir Malevich’s Suprematism. Despite its religious iconography, Malevich’s black cross empties out the tradition of painting, stripping it of its need for form, colour and representation. David Diao has long been interested in investigating aspects of Modernism through visual means. In Four of Five Crosses, Diao repeats the image of Malevich’s black cross four times, producing a fifth cross in the negative space. 

David Diao
Four or Five Crosses, 1987
Aquatint on arches cover
60×71 cm
23½×28 in
Edition of 30
(DIAO-2010-0025)

Signed by the artist on the front. Unframed.