The colour of black

10.30am on my first day in Toronto and we are in AGO, the Art Gallery of Ontario, tuning in to the troubled souls of the departed Abstract Expressionists.

Standing in front of Barnett Newman's "Abraham", I found myself back to the art room of my A' Level school studies, in debate on the concept of colour in black. Newman spent two weeks wrestling with reason, plucking up courage, before transferring his vision onto canvas. Then, the galleries refused to display it. Now, it is recognised as a masterpiece of great and soothing sublety (look carefully). It is a lesson for those who dare to think differently. Just do it.