Dolly 2017

Curator: "Dolly," a mixed-media work created by David Michael Hinnebusch in 2017, merges acrylic paint with other materials, resulting in an intriguing dialogue between figuration and abstraction. Editor: Immediately, I sense a vibrant yet unsettling energy radiating from this painting. The composition, with its disjointed layering of forms, creates a feeling of unease, almost chaotic, yet the bold colors pull you in. Curator: Hinnebusch's engagement with neo-expressionism is evident in the raw brushstrokes and fragmented imagery. Notice the almost graffiti-like elements; the piece suggests urban art, resonating with pop influences while hinting at street art aesthetics. The semiotics point towards a blend of familiar forms disrupted. Editor: Precisely, the inclusion of what appears to be a schematic drawing of industrial machinery juxtaposed with the stylized nude figure is provocative. I find it challenges our ingrained expectations of representation. In essence, where would this image be acceptable to be shown publicly and in what environment would it have been created? Curator: From a formalist lens, the use of color demands consideration. The interplay of blacks, reds, and yellows, heightened by stark lines, creates visual tensions, emphasizing the tactile presence of mixed materials used in construction of the work. Editor: Indeed. What historical precedents can we trace here? The echoes of earlier 20th-century movements are evident but where does this painting stand regarding art market values within the local socio-economic context of its place of production? The artist seemingly rejects historical artistic structures and social standards of art at large by putting these two conflicting images on top of one another. Curator: Its materiality, the textures built from layers of paint and added mediums, serves not merely as a technique but becomes an intrinsic part of the work’s communicative power. Editor: Well, viewing the work in this setting allows us to understand a piece from Hinnebusch’s trajectory, connecting past dialogues with the ever-present question about cultural boundaries in our post-internet age. Curator: By embracing disjunction and unexpected juxtapositions, "Dolly" generates an enduring conversation on our modern landscape.