Interesting Mountains 1987

Curator: Immediately I’m struck by this sense of, perhaps organized chaos. The lines and colors blend in a way that’s both energetic and slightly unsettling. Editor: I understand that reaction. This is "Interesting Mountains" by Maria Bozoky, a mixed-media work created in 1987. The techniques here remind me a little of post-impressionism’s dissolution of form through colour and line. It certainly evokes a particular moment, though it’s almost impossible to say precisely which. Curator: Yes, that is a clever title. The way Bozoky uses a range of media to describe this cityscape... you’ve got watercolors blurring edges and distinct, nervous ink strokes suggesting movement and instability. I find it very emotional, hinting at urban anxiety through a non-photorealistic, somewhat jarring visual field. Editor: Interesting, "urban anxiety". One might also read the brushwork and varied colours in relation to debates about public spaces, especially from the mid- to late-80s. At the time, many public spaces were falling into disrepair, impacting working-class populations, so this style of depiction reflects contemporary urban conditions and the experience of alienation they wrought. There's that tension, in what *looks* like a picturesque landscape, which can be very deceptive. Curator: I agree, that's astute, especially considering the piece's use of traditionally comforting themes – the houses, the bridge... these become vehicles for this unsettling emotional expression, even when filtered through established art historical movements like abstract expressionism and post-impressionism. You feel that history here. Editor: Absolutely. And Bozoky’s position matters too. As a woman artist working in the late 20th century, her work is inherently situated within larger conversations about whose perspectives and experiences get represented, especially when considering public life. This feels very relevant for current socio-political discussions around gender, race, and power. Curator: Well, seeing it through the lens of her time is critical to my experience with the piece. Bozoky really gives us a powerful reflection on place and identity that I’m sure will spark a lot of thought today. Editor: Agreed. It is amazing how artworks, across periods, retain such timely and socially poignant voices.