Vinorel no. 3: Imaginary vinorel (Cabernet Sauvignon) 2018

Editor: This is Alfred Freddy Krupa’s "Vinorel no. 3: Imaginary vinorel (Cabernet Sauvignon)" from 2018, made with ink and watercolor. I’m struck by its sparse composition; it feels very delicate. What formal qualities stand out to you in this piece? Curator: The restrained palette is certainly key. The almost monochromatic use of the Cabernet Sauvignon wine as pigment, lends a unique tonality, guiding our perception. Note the stark contrast of the fluid ink lines that form the trees against the blank paper. How does this tension between line and void affect your reading of the artwork? Editor: I think the starkness emphasizes the fragility of the trees, maybe even suggesting a barren landscape. Does the "vinorel," or wine-based pigment, have significance beyond its color? Curator: Indeed. By employing wine as medium, Krupa directs our attention to the material properties. Observe how the wine subtly stains and bleeds into the paper, creating depth and texture through layering rather than illusionistic techniques. It foregrounds the artwork's materiality. Editor: So, the way the wine interacts with the paper is as important as what is being depicted? Curator: Precisely. The very act of using wine to depict a landscape, especially in such a minimalist fashion, invites us to contemplate the essence of both the medium and the subject. Editor: I never considered the materiality in that way. This has provided a richer appreciation for the art's formal composition. Curator: Indeed, paying close attention to the form and material brings an entirely new perspective to art analysis.