692 The Rain Falls Far From Us Falls the Rain 1970

Curator: Friedensreich Hundertwasser created this mixed-media painting in 1970. The title is “692 The Rain Falls Far From Us Falls the Rain.” What’s grabbing you at first glance? Editor: It’s unsettling, vibrant but melancholic, the repeating spiral motifs of the trees feel almost claustrophobic against the looming rain. It’s a bit like looking at a forest through a very distorted memory. Curator: Hundertwasser rejected straight lines and embraced the spiral, which he saw as a symbol of life and nature's organic forms. The institutionalized geometry of the modern world was, to him, a form of oppression against human spirit. Editor: Absolutely. And there's a sense of naive art that makes the themes even more accessible; his art invites an active dialogue, it’s hard not to link the drops of rain with the current global climate concerns that hit communities with a vengeance. Curator: He was deeply committed to environmentalism, long before it became a mainstream movement. He felt strongly that art should reflect and advocate for a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Look at those whimsical human figures intermingled with the foliage; they could be seen as guardians, but also as intrinsically linked to the landscape. Editor: It raises the question, doesn’t it, of responsibility? How are these figures engaging, if at all, with this landscape? And if this is a landscape ravaged by the effects of pollution, who are the active parties in that dynamic? I also wonder how the gallery world is engaging with these types of landscapes in particular. Curator: The spiral motif goes beyond just aesthetics; it underscores Hundertwasser’s philosophy about the interconnectedness of life. Art, in this framework, becomes a platform for socio-ecological awareness, a counter-narrative to the march of industrialization and environmental degradation. It is very interesting to wonder, given our context, how much his beliefs were put into practice. Editor: It gives a lot of food for thought. To me it becomes a compelling blend of activism and visual art. Curator: Agreed. A reminder that art can act as a mirror, reflecting back our own role in the grand tapestry of existence and the impact of our sociopolitical landscape.