Consciousness of Shock 1951

Editor: Victor Brauner’s “Consciousness of Shock,” created in 1951 with mixed media and watercolor, has a compellingly strange quality to it. I'm drawn to how the artist renders these abstract figures that feel almost mythical and somewhat haunting. What stands out to you when you look at this piece? Curator: Well, first, I’m completely enchanted by the title! "Consciousness of Shock" suggests to me an awakening, perhaps a rude one. These figures, are they passengers on some inner voyage? Brauner, immersed in surrealism, had a fascination with the occult and mythology. It makes me think: Is the bird-headed figure representing intellect, while the other, perhaps, emotion? And is this "shock" the moment when the two collide? Do you see the quiet disquiet in the muted tones? It’s as if the colors themselves are whispering secrets, hinting at hidden meanings beneath the surface. Editor: That's interesting; I didn’t initially see it as a collision of intellect and emotion. I was so focused on the strangeness of the figures that I didn't consider the deeper symbolic meanings. Do you think the boat is significant, perhaps symbolizing a journey through the subconscious? Curator: Precisely! It is Brauner's theatre for the uncanny, isn't it? Every form seems charged, doesn’t it? Almost like each brushstroke holds a coded message. You know, when I look at this, I wonder, are we witnessing Brauner’s own subconscious laid bare? He often used personal symbols in his work – clues for us to ponder. It's less about concrete answers, and more about diving into that shared space between the known and unknown. Editor: It's definitely given me a lot to think about! I now feel like I need to spend more time with it and consider these layers of meaning. Curator: Yes, sometimes art is like a whispered secret, isn't it? It invites us to listen closely, to decode the message hidden in plain sight. And in that process, perhaps we discover a little something about ourselves.