Untitled (Abstract Composition) 1966

Curator: Here we have Alexander Boghossian's "Untitled (Abstract Composition)" from 1966, a mixed-media painting. Editor: My first thought is how arresting this red is, and how much it dominates the overall reading of the artwork. It feels quite bold and fiery, despite the relatively small scale of the canvas. Curator: Indeed. Focusing on the arrangement of forms, we see how Boghossian employs geometric shapes and what could be seen as fragmented figuration. Notice the layering, the textures achieved through the mixed media, and the considered use of the color palette within a primarily monochromatic scheme. The formal tension resides in balancing abstract and figurative elements, typical of modernist explorations. Editor: And the repeated motifs throughout the work bring a sense of visual rhythm. These abstracted figures read as icons, drawing heavily from the artistic language of the indigenous Americas, maybe alluding to deeper cultural narratives. What kind of stories could we uncover through understanding what these might symbolize? The concentric circles, for example, remind me of sun or eye motifs found in various cultures, embodying protection or a higher power. Curator: A semiotic approach certainly lends itself here. We can trace visual and theoretical relationships through each element in relation to the whole. What I see at work is his play between recognizable imagery and pure abstraction—a conscious construction challenging the viewer. It’s a modern idiom of reassembling found elements and references to construct new artistic meanings. Editor: Exactly. The raw materiality suggests ritual objects. While abstract, I still perceive distinct thematic elements in the cultural memories echoed in these signs. To look at it in terms of symbolic meaning invites us to ponder not just what's on the canvas but what lives beneath. Curator: Very insightful, highlighting the cultural undertones against the abstract framework Boghossian delivers. Editor: Agreed, understanding it in formal terms certainly heightens our awareness of the artistry behind this culturally intriguing piece.