Nr 23 2020

Editor: So, this is "Nr 23" by Armin Andreas Pangerl, created in 2020. It's a mixed-media piece combining drawing, ink, textiles, and paper... It feels incredibly dense, almost chaotic, but the monochrome palette keeps it grounded. What do you see in this piece? Curator: My attention is immediately drawn to the intricate layering of elements. Notice how the textual component, seemingly stream-of-consciousness writing, acts as both surface and subject. The linear quality of the writing merges with graphic marks, blurring the distinction between text and image. Editor: So the text is also part of the artistic statement? Curator: Precisely. And observe the considered placement of colourful abstract motifs amidst this textual sea. Are these elements in conflict, or are they in harmony? Editor: I initially thought they were discordant, but now I'm seeing how they provide these little points of entry, areas for the eye to rest. What's your overall take? Curator: The formal qualities suggest an interest in deconstructing traditional artistic hierarchies. Is the writing merely content, or has it been carefully arranged to create formal qualities of composition, balance, and rhythm? Editor: I see what you mean. The balance between the density of the writing and the deliberate placement of these bursts of colour really creates this push-and-pull effect, visually. Curator: The work rewards close and prolonged inspection, prompting one to question the interplay of text, line, colour, and composition in abstract art. Editor: Absolutely. I’ll never look at a mixed-media piece the same way! It makes you want to dig beneath the surface.