Stars and Disasters (Astres et Désastres) 1969

Curator: This intriguing linocut print, "Stars and Disasters," was created in 1969 by Pierre Alechinsky. You can see the bold lines typical of his work and his interest in exploring themes related to abstraction through printmaking. Editor: Wow, it vibrates! Like a psychedelic petri dish, or maybe a quirky weather map. The rainbow hues are so inviting but then, "disasters"? Now I’m seeing the wobbly, almost frenetic linework and the crude circles more as…portentous. Curator: The title offers a powerful juxtaposition, doesn't it? Alechinsky, associated with Art Informel, often played with contrasting elements. I'm particularly drawn to the visible labor here. You can see the texture imparted by the linoleum block, almost feeling the artist’s hand at work. The act of carving, printing, repeating—it's all part of the statement. Editor: Absolutely. The hand of the artist really makes you consider how this organic pattern was shaped by that tension of control and happenstance. Did he plan that slight rainbow gradient from red out to green at the very center? The little gestures within those circles - the little markings give everything this raw and exciting feeling. Curator: Exactly. And consider how the "disasters" might relate to broader cultural anxieties of the late 60s. Alechinsky was engaging with post-war concerns, anxieties around technology, the potential for destruction. This piece offers, I believe, a response. Editor: I can see that, even just in the immediacy of the Pop Art influence! Thinking about print as a medium, meant for repeated reproduction - and then contrasting that accessibility and democratized medium with this expression of such intimate and unique gesture? Curator: Precisely. That contrast—between mass production techniques and unique artistic expression—is key to understanding Alechinsky's social critique. It brings a tension to this piece that speaks of broader forces than stars and disasters. Editor: Well, I’m thoroughly unsettled, in the best possible way! So much more than a colourful circle. Curator: Indeed, Alechinsky pulls us into a space of beautiful unease.