Equilibrium 1970

Curator: Look at this lively painting by Olga Albizu. The piece, titled "Equilibrium," was completed in 1970. What is your initial impression? Editor: Chaotic! Yet, the saturated blocks of acrylic feel so carefully laid, one after the other. It is really making me wonder about the application of this paint; it feels both impulsive and extremely controlled. Curator: Exactly! "Equilibrium," a title itself suggesting a balance of forces, speaks to Albizu's engagement with color field painting and abstract expressionism. It's an immersion into a visual sensation, perhaps an attempt to picture an interior world or a sense of internal reconciliation. Editor: It's tempting to link the use of bright colors in the 1970s, after years of global conflicts, as escapist or uplifting. I am interested in her artistic process. Was she trying to smooth the edges, or did the visible brush strokes enhance a feeling? The labor becomes visible through material, doesn't it? Curator: The intensity does hit you, doesn’t it? I suspect Albizu pulls from personal experience here, combining elements of her Puerto Rican heritage with broader influences. Color itself acts as an independent source of meaning. The way in which Albizu lays down and interrelates hues seems intuitive, and they are reminiscent of how the human mind tries to assemble disparate sensations into something complete. Editor: Yes, that tension between intentional construction and uninhibited flow fascinates me. Thinking about access to paints and support, one needs money and supplies for acrylic painting. There are economic considerations that enable abstract creation! Curator: I see your point, this is less spontaneous than it first appears! Editor: Overall, it's like glimpsing a fragmented yet joyful memory – perhaps of home or a vibrant community. Curator: Indeed. It's intriguing how "Equilibrium" holds its contradictions together in a visual experience of such energy. Editor: Absolutely! Reflecting on the conditions surrounding its making certainly provides an additional context for this piece.