Untitled #2 (Biomorphic Shapes and Curving Lines) c. 1947

Editor: This is Howard Daum's "Untitled #2 (Biomorphic Shapes and Curving Lines)" from around 1947, made with ink, I think. The first thing that struck me was how playful yet mysterious it feels. Like looking into an alien garden. What do you make of this work? Curator: It does feel like stepping into an alternate reality, doesn't it? I find that Daum masterfully plays with depth. See how some forms seem to float forward, while others recede? This tension is what makes it feel so dynamic, almost as if these biomorphic shapes are alive and breathing. Are you sensing any echoes of, say, Miró or perhaps Arp? Editor: I can definitely see the Miró influence in the whimsical lines. But Arp... I guess I hadn't considered that! Curator: Absolutely! These artists shared an interest in surrealism, a fascination with dreams, and a touch of humour too. The way that Daum organizes shapes also brings to mind children's book illustrations; almost childlike. Doesn’t it make you wonder if that child-like freedom is what Abstract Expressionism sought? A space devoid of rigid structures... Editor: It makes perfect sense. It's like unearthing what’s buried, almost freeing. So how does the title play into this, or rather, *not* play into it? It is “untitled” after all… Curator: Precisely! The “untitled” bit gives us permission to just be. I find such grace in just accepting art's essence and seeing what the creator felt at the moment the piece was completed. It’s as if Daum is inviting *us* to complete the narrative, not the other way around! Editor: That's such a cool perspective. I came in thinking 'abstract is hard,' but now, thanks to you, I feel like I’m free to embrace that lack of boundaries! Curator: Yes, you were able to create some fluidity with a topic that many would simply dismiss or discard outright! A beautiful thing.