Inferno II 1967

Editor: This is Sidney Nolan's "Inferno II," currently housed at the Tate. I find the bold color choices and somewhat unsettling arrangement of figures quite striking. What formal qualities stand out to you? Curator: The composition is interesting. Note the juxtaposition of the stylized figures against the more loosely rendered background. How does this tension between figuration and abstraction affect your interpretation? Editor: It creates a sense of unease, maybe a disruption of order. Are the isolated splashes of color related to this feeling? Curator: Precisely. The color functions structurally, disrupting the surface and unsettling the viewer's gaze. What do you make of the artist's handling of line and texture? Editor: The rough texture adds to the raw, almost primal feel. Thanks, I’m noticing how all the elements contribute to the overall effect now.