Modular/Seriell 1977

Curator: We're looking at Richard Paul Lohse’s 1977 piece, "Modular/Seriell," an acrylic on canvas. Nine squares, each a vibrant, singular colour. Editor: It's startling. A rigid grid, but somehow cheerful? It almost feels… computational. The colours ping with a bold, digital energy. Curator: The title itself hints at the method. "Modular/Seriell" refers to seriality, a system Lohse embraced. It's about creating order from pre-defined modules and color relationships. Observe the relationship between each square – it's not arbitrary, there is an almost algorithmic sequencing that dictates the shifts between the hues. Editor: But what does it signify? Why these specific colours, arranged this way? Is there a deeper narrative, or a feeling these choices intend to create for the viewer? A code waiting to be broken? Curator: It's tempting to seek out a coded message. Lohse was invested in colour theory. One could see connections to the historical significance of each colour. Think of green’s association with nature and the cyclical, yellow as an emblem of optimism and the spiritual, or orange representing vitality and courage. Perhaps the intention is simply the interplay between the blocks as perceived by the individual. Editor: Perhaps that the seriality reflects a desire for harmony within chaos. The grid’s starkness almost hints at the imposition of order; each bright block a carefully organized piece. It seems as if there is an entire system of symbolism that underpins something as outwardly simplistic as nine blocks of color. It reminds us that the human eye is often a liar, eager to weave complex emotional tales even in the most controlled, logical, abstract arrangements. Curator: Well put. The very nature of color, its cultural and personal impact is undeniably present. Lohse asks us to consider how colours work not just visually, but conceptually. Editor: Indeed. After this careful contemplation of "Modular/Seriell", I think I can almost say the algorithm by which it was created now speaks to me.