From the Lyric Suite 1965

Curator: Here we have Robert Motherwell's "From the Lyric Suite," created in 1965 using acrylic paint. Editor: Oh, this one hits me right away. It feels... almost like a primal scream rendered in blues and reds. Raw emotion splattered on a stark background. Curator: I find that interesting. Motherwell, deeply invested in Abstract Expressionism, saw abstraction as a medium for universal ideas, tapping into archetypes of the collective unconscious. The simplicity here allows the subconscious to meet memory. Editor: Subconscious meeting memory. I like that. The way that ultramarine arc dominates the top half feels almost violent, those drips like tears or… or blood from a wound, contrasting so starkly with the soft red. It is the tragedy and triumph in our day, I suspect. Curator: Indeed. While appearing spontaneous, Motherwell approached his work with careful consideration, believing colors carried psychological weight and served as signs in an open semiotic field. What visual continuities might the Lyric Suite draw from cultural symbols? Editor: To me, it's the balance – or imbalance – that resonates. The controlled violence of the blue against the relative serenity of the red band. Like two opposing forces constantly negotiating. Reminds me of my last relationship... seriously. What about the single red orb below? It is an atom or perhaps the start of a universe, almost cartoon-like at a certain view. Curator: Interesting point. Red circles recur in Motherwell's work, sometimes connected to personal experiences. Here it introduces another layer of meaning – like a grounding point for all that emotion swirling above. Perhaps also alluding to the human body as vessel and experience in which these experiences are borne. Editor: That adds so much. Knowing that, I almost feel calmer looking at it now. Almost. Thanks! Curator: You are most welcome! This work has definitely grown even deeper in meaning in our exchanges.