Composition 27 1930

Curator: Welcome to the world of Sonia Delaunay. Here we are looking at “Composition 27”, a vibrant acrylic painting she created in 1930. Delaunay, along with her husband Robert, was a pioneer of Orphism, a movement within Cubism focused on pure abstraction and bright colors. Editor: Whoa! It hits you right away, doesn't it? It’s so playful, almost like fabric samples cut on the bias for some avant-garde quilt. What do you make of the colour choices? Curator: It is interesting that you interpret that pattern quality; textile design was incredibly significant in Delaunay’s practice and Orphist visual language as a whole. But, the dynamic arrangements and clashing primary hues feel intrinsically linked to her exploration of simultaneity—how colors interact and affect one another in time and space. Think of it as a visual symphony. Editor: A symphony conducted by a kid who just discovered finger-painting! No, but seriously, it makes me think about jazz, especially the way different rhythms and tempos can clash and blend together, create this whole vibrant sensation. There is some improvisational spirit within the organisation of geometric and free-form shapes... Curator: And what about her choice to eschew perspectival depth entirely? It positions the painting not as a window onto the world, but as a field for color, light, and dynamism that reflect on one another. In the interwar years, she wanted her artworks, including this one, to speak to and embrace modernity. The colour relationships become stand-ins for our place within shifting social contexts. Editor: Well, if you want my perspective on it—all those dots and dashes create a strange sensation for me. Like code… secrets hidden in plain sight. Maybe I need a color decoder ring or something. Seriously! I'm suddenly craving licorice and blueberries, this has definitely tickled my senses! Curator: That sensory effect makes a lot of sense to me; and indeed speaks to the essence of abstraction, a composition of geometric and lyrical marks which generate novel interpretations that reflect our place and being, through time and context. Delaunay would have liked that… Editor: She sure would. Next up though: time to see if the gift shop sells licorice…