Collage 1973

Editor: This is Aldo Mondino’s "Collage," made in 1973 with acrylic paint and paper. I find it striking how Mondino has captured these bold, flat colors held in place by what looks like dollops of paint. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, right away I see a playful engagement with everyday symbols. The squares of color evoke children's building blocks, and those dollops read as playful attempts at fixity. In this collage, the squares, each a saturated hue, create a sense of dynamic tension. What memories or feelings are invoked by the visual simplicity? Editor: It feels like simple childlike shapes and playfulness—but arranged in an off-kilter and very considered way. I guess it’s those muted clips which give it an odd feeling. Curator: Exactly. They appear decorative while their symbolism hints at holding the image together and something perhaps slightly sinister – controlling? I find the colors deeply engaging because in semiotics color has cultural memory, which may have associations with authority. So in one respect Mondino seems to reduce everything to basic, essential forms; the art of reduction. Editor: So, it’s not just about pretty colors, there's a deeper meaning embedded in these symbolic associations and reductive style. Curator: Precisely. Color affects memory and associations can be culturally shaped in the mind of the artist and viewer. It seems to explore fundamental tensions between simplicity and control. How does that understanding alter your initial perception? Editor: It makes me realize that what looks initially simple can be quite complex, and even disturbing when thinking about color. Curator: And in recognizing that visual tension Mondino seems to be using very elemental components, opening it up to a wide variety of interpretations. A useful piece of art making which helps to unpick so much symbolism, I'd suggest. Editor: Absolutely, it’s incredible to discover how those primary shapes can ignite a conversation about psychology. Thanks!