Romberg's systems of codification

I studied in the studio of Osvaldo Romberg from 2004-2006. One of the most universal things that I learned from him, was his theoretical system of analysis and codification. His multitude of color charts and tonal scales, allowed me to understand a systematic way, not only to think about color, but about how to form a classification of virtually anything. This I also applied to studying classical painting itself, by understanding the depth of colors, tones, and layers of opacities and transparencies that the masters used, and how to apply a rational comprehension of them to my own work. In my conceptual work, the classification system lent itself to the study of language, as with these two language charts, Alphabetic Chart: Korean, 2009, and Japanese Syllabary: Katakana, 2013. These works involve my own interest as a scholar in the philosophy of language, but may also be viewed purely for their graphic and typographic quality. I was very influenced by Osvaldo's color classification in creating these works, but also by the geometric deconstructions of his contemporary in the world of conceptual art, Sol LeWitt as well. Understanding art through classification creates a rationality through which we can understand art as a system of visual language, and also as a language which is thereby also a visual system.