Arpa 1964

Here is the audio guide script for the artwork provided: Paul Feeley's "Arpa" presents us with a field of cobalt blue, upon which four distinct clusters of organic, kidney-shaped forms float. These shapes, reminiscent of stylized petals, are arranged in a circular, almost floral pattern, echoing ancient symbols of growth and cyclical renewal. This motif, where distinct entities converge to form a unified whole, appears throughout history. Consider the rosette patterns adorning ancient Mesopotamian temples or the mandalas of Eastern spiritual traditions. Here, these colored shapes also call to mind primitive forms, such as cells viewed through a microscope. The repetition suggests life's building blocks. These symbolic forms transcend mere decoration. They awaken a deep-seated human impulse to find order and harmony in chaos, reflecting our subconscious desire to connect the individual to the universal. Thus, Feeley's simple composition resonates with an enduring visual language. It is a language that continuously resurfaces and evolves, speaking to the timeless human quest for meaning and connection.