Sort 1998

Curator: Per Inge Bjørlo's "Sort" is a study in contrasts, featuring bold black forms against a pale ground. What's your immediate reaction? Editor: Disquiet. The thick, almost visceral shapes seem to struggle against the rigid grid, suggesting a tension between chaos and order. Curator: Bjørlo often explores the darker aspects of the human condition. This print, acquired by the Tate, reminds us of the socio-political contexts which shaped expressionism. Editor: Indeed, and I can't help but focus on the materiality—the starkness of the ink, the grain of the paper. It speaks to a sort of raw, unrefined energy in the printmaking process. Curator: A visual manifestation of existential angst, some might say. Its stark imagery challenges comfortable narratives, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, and forces us to confront our own assumptions about the value of simplicity in art making. Curator: It leaves you pondering its weight. Editor: Precisely, the tactile quality and visceral feel lingers.