Hand Picking Flowers 

Curator: The painting before us is entitled "Hand Picking Flowers" by Tihamer Gyarmathy. Executed in oil, it’s a work marked by automatism, a practice prioritizing the subconscious mind. Editor: My first impression is that the painting exudes a strange tranquility. There is a feeling of floating—of dream-like abstraction, the textural brushstrokes enhance the organic feeling of this work. Curator: Gyarmathy, though lacking a specific date for this painting, was heavily involved in the European avant-garde movements. Considering the era, it aligns with a broader investigation into the human psyche emerging post-World War II, questioning the representational art canons that had been prevalent before this watershed in time. Editor: Observe how color plays a pivotal role. The juxtaposed blues, purples, and yellows, against the heavy use of impasto and varied texture, suggest not only the act of 'picking flowers,' but also speaks to themes of emotional and symbolic transformation of lived experiences. I read the painting as very psychological. Curator: Precisely. In terms of composition, note the tension between recognizable, though distorted, shapes and the more abstract backgrounds. It can also be observed how each shape acts almost like a signifier of an alternative visual vocabulary of forms and colors, perhaps reflecting on universal human themes in an alternative perspective. Editor: There’s a playful irony in the title, "Hand Picking Flowers," when confronted with the abstract imagery. Could Gyarmathy be subtly critiquing society's sentimental view of nature, especially against the backdrop of increasing urbanization? Curator: It could also signal an alternative method of translating life through a painterly language into something that transcends conventional interpretation and expectations, yes. One could also relate it to historical depictions of nymphs and folklore relating to ethereal worlds. It all depends on the critical lens that’s employed. Editor: True. Gyarmathy's use of automatism allows the viewers a glimpse into the chaotic world of the artist's subconscious experience. "Hand Picking Flowers" provides a fertile ground to further unravel the symbolism it projects through color and form. Curator: Indeed, considering "Hand Picking Flowers," it is an enriching case of artistic expressions, especially given its engagement in art's historical, philosophical, and psychological layers, proving the lasting impacts of non-representational modes of translating existence.