Untitled 1980

Manoucher Yektai created this untitled oil painting. At first glance, the artwork bursts with thick, textured strokes of color, a hallmark of Abstract Expressionism, evoking a sense of immediacy and raw emotion. Notice how Yektai uses a still life arrangement as a framework but then pushes against it. What appears as objects on a table – fruit, flowers, a vase – dissolve into abstract forms through vigorous application of paint. The composition is structured by a loose, almost geometric scaffolding, yet within these boundaries, Yektai’s unrestrained brushwork introduces chaos. This interplay between structure and spontaneity might be read through a post-structuralist lens. The painting destabilizes fixed meanings, challenging the viewer to find coherence amidst expressive chaos. Ultimately, it’s not just about what is depicted, but how the act of painting itself becomes the subject.