Untitled 1961

Curator: Here we have an untitled work by Robert Adams, whose life spanned much of the 20th century. What do you make of it? Editor: It feels almost like shattered stained glass, or perhaps the deconstruction of a heraldic shield. Curator: Adams often employed geometric forms, and here, the triangle dominates. Notice the interplay of color and the way the shapes interact within the picture plane. How do you read the symbolism? Editor: The triangles, depending on orientation, might evoke stability or precariousness. The colors too – that somber red – lends a gravity that counters the dynamism of the composition. I’m curious how this piece might have been received in its time. Curator: Abstraction like this often provoked strong reactions, pushing against traditional notions of representation in the mid-20th century. Editor: Indeed. It really invites us to consider how meaning is constructed, or perhaps deconstructed, over time through art. Curator: Absolutely. Adams invites us to question the very nature of order and chaos. Editor: Well put. I appreciate the lingering unease it leaves me with.