Untitled #17 1980

Editor: So, here we have Etel Adnan's "Untitled #17" from 1980, rendered in acrylic. The bright blocks of color really grab your attention, and that vibrant red square is so central, drawing the eye immediately. What do you see in this piece, and how do you interpret that red square? Curator: That little red square, you're right, it's a potent symbol, a kind of lodestar. Adnan often returns to the image of the mountain, specifically Mount Sannine, a cultural touchstone in Lebanon. This isn't just a landscape; it's a landscape imbued with memory and meaning. Do you see how the colours relate, not as mimetic representation, but as emotional resonance? Editor: I can see that, definitely. The way the pink hovers above, almost like a memory itself… So, the red isn’t just a formal element; it has symbolic weight connected to that specific place, that specific mountain? Curator: Precisely. Red often represents passion, life force, even violence. Placed within this landscape, does it become a symbol of resilience, of life persisting in a specific homeland, or something else? Consider the history of Lebanon during that time – what collective feelings might Adnan be tapping into? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about, framing it within the socio-political context. It transforms it from just a landscape to a kind of statement. Curator: Exactly! And symbols shift over time, taking on new meanings, even as they carry echoes of the old. It’s a fascinating dance between personal expression and cultural memory. What resonates most with you now, seeing that? Editor: I think I see a statement of defiant hope within this beautiful, bold abstraction. Curator: An excellent observation. It's amazing how a few colours and shapes can carry such depth.