CQFD 

Editor: So, here we have "CQFD" by Jaroslav Serpan, a mixed-media painting. There's a lot happening; it feels like a map of some futuristic city, but also very chaotic. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful statement on the fragmentation of modern experience. Given Serpan’s association with abstract expressionism, let’s consider the historical backdrop. Post-war Europe saw a dismantling of traditional social structures. Could these colliding forms represent the individual navigating that upheaval? The lines almost dissecting the artwork also suggest a crisis or fracture. How do the geometric shapes interact for you? Editor: They feel unstable, like they are floating but also about to crash into each other. Some of the shapes look like maps. Are you suggesting that this piece could represent the disruption after the World War? Curator: Absolutely. The geometric shapes hint at the rational order that was sought to be rebuilt but the mixed media speaks to the untidy realities of its creation. I wonder how notions of class might be subverted, or reinforced, in a city-space portrayed this way? What materials has the artist used and do you consider their intention when choosing these? Editor: It's hard to tell, but I see some possible textures with mixed media that add more character to the art piece. Maybe it’s saying the urban experience impacts everyone no matter the identity and there’s disruption? Curator: Precisely. Perhaps this fragmentation extends to identity itself? The blending and collision, while chaotic, can also represent potential for new syntheses. It opens possibilities to interpreting history through multiple lenses. What started as abstract interpretation leads to questions of urban development, social structure, and ultimately of humanity’s complex story. Editor: That makes me see it in a completely different light. Now, this makes me feel like I understand more of the cultural context in Serpan’s intention behind his work and its relationship to broader societal issues.