Triangles 1978

Editor: This is Richard Smith's "Triangles," a piece from the Tate collection. I am struck by its quietness, despite the bold geometric shapes. What do you see in this work? Curator: I see a dialogue with postwar anxieties regarding social structures. The triangles, constrained within the square, drip downwards; are they symbolic of hierarchies in decline? Smith seems to question the rigidity of modernism. What about the palette strikes you? Editor: The muted colors feel…institutional, almost bureaucratic. Do you think that was intentional, reflecting the power structures of the time? Curator: Precisely. It suggests a critical perspective on established norms. Perhaps Smith is urging us to deconstruct these very "triangles" in society. Editor: I hadn't considered that level of social commentary. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: It's in the subtle details! These shapes often speak louder than any slogan.