Maze 2016

Curator: Here we have Albrecht Behmel's 2016 mixed-media piece, "Maze." It's a vibrant explosion of color, isn't it? Editor: It is that! My immediate impression is organized chaos. A sense of confinement but with an almost manic energy in its colorful segments. It feels claustrophobic. Curator: Notice how the shapes, though organic, are meticulously outlined in black. There is something like stained glass in the execution, even with the textural depth that’s achieved through visible brushstrokes in the acrylic paint. The title becomes incredibly pertinent, as the pathways interlock, giving an intricate visual experience. Editor: This labyrinthine quality is something I immediately pick up on. It evokes how power structures can trap individuals, particularly in systems designed to disorient and control. The vibrancy could be interpreted as the struggle against this confinement, the bold colors fighting against the black lines that attempt to contain them. Curator: That’s a fascinating perspective. I was leaning more towards exploring it through the lens of pure abstraction – the artist creating an entirely self-referential world with its own internal logic and visual grammar, perhaps rooted in colour field painting. There’s a freedom in abstraction. Editor: But is any art truly without context? Looking at the period in which Behmel created this work, it’s impossible not to consider the rise of populist movements and political polarization globally. The 'Maze' could reflect that social climate. The bright elements representing conflicting ideologies pushing against and contained by the lines of law and custom. Curator: Yes, art absorbs its cultural context, no matter what. But I find it exciting to examine how Behmel creates visual harmony despite using this high-keyed color palette. He allows shapes to be individual whilst contributing to a unified compositional whole. The textured surface enhances the optical complexity, creating movement even in stasis. Editor: I suppose that interplay is what gives “Maze” such lasting appeal, the dual interpretation: visual exploration of design against an ever present need for deeper engagement and political questioning. The beauty here lies in this ongoing tension between the aesthetic and the activist. Curator: Ultimately, Behmel's work challenges us to lose ourselves within structure and order. To look past chaos to find unique detail. Editor: And prompts the vital questions; Where are we in the labyrinth and who designed it? What purpose is the ‘Maze’ designed to fulfill and who does it protect and punish?