Triptic

Mechanics (Triptych)

In this triptych of small charcoal drawings, Jorge Da Cruz turns his attention to the quiet, powerful shifts that shape the natural world over time. Though each drawing measures just 40 by 30 centimeters, their impact feels much larger. Together, these three works—Mechanics: Retreat, Mechanics: Erosion, and Mechanics: Collapse—form a meditation on change, impermanence, and the slow forces that shape the earth.

The first drawing, Mechanics: Retreat, captures the moment when ice begins to give way to water. It’s a subtle transition, drawn with restraint. Delicate marks show the ice softening, its weight loosening. There’s tension in the stillness, as if the ice is holding on just a little longer before letting go. It’s a quiet surrender, and within it, a reminder that even the most solid forms are always in motion.

In Mechanics: Erosion, the focus shifts to the slow wearing-down of the landscape. There’s no single dramatic event here—just time, working steadily. Layered textures and muted tones evoke the quiet persistence of erosion. The drawing captures how the earth reshapes itself gradually, without spectacle. Da Cruz honors the patience of this process and the quiet power it carries.

The final piece, Mechanics: Collapse, brings a sense of release. Dense, dark forms break apart into lighter, fragmented areas, suggesting a structure—rock, ice, or land—finally giving way. There’s drama in the contrast, but it doesn’t feel violent. Even in collapse, there’s a kind of order, a rhythm. It’s not an ending, but part of a larger cycle.

Together, these three small drawings form a thoughtful and cohesive whole. Their intimate scale draws the viewer in, encouraging a slower, more careful way of looking—mirroring the very processes they explore. Through the richness of charcoal and the precision of his touch, Da Cruz finds poetry in the earth’s transformations.

What makes this triptych so moving is its ability to find meaning in what’s often overlooked. By focusing on retreat, erosion, and collapse, Da Cruz shows that nature’s power lies not just in force, but in time. These works remind us that even the most permanent-seeming things are constantly changing—quietly, patiently, and with purpose.