Hello 1970

Curator: I am immediately struck by the dynamism. The bright colours, almost carelessly splashed, lend it a chaotic yet playful energy. Editor: Indeed. And the painting before us, created in 1970, is by the American artist Sam Francis. It's entitled "Hello" and executed in acrylic paint, reflecting Francis's continued interest in Abstract Expressionism. This was a key period where he expanded his vibrant colour fields. Curator: The title is interesting given its abstract nature. The vibrant colours – reds, blues, greens – are splattered, with large diagonal washes, and the dark spatters read almost like a deconstructed script. Perhaps it represents a greeting’s scattered fragments, like memories or fleeting emotions associated with that single word, "Hello". Editor: You raise a fascinating point. Contextually, Abstract Expressionism thrived in a postwar America grappling with shifting social values. A painting like this offers a visual release, eschewing traditional narrative for the sheer physicality and emotion of the paint itself. This turn towards abstraction provided freedom in expression at that time. Curator: Looking at the symbolic possibilities, these lines remind me of a modern interpretation of water—often signifying emotion and fluidity. Perhaps, on the psychological level, Francis intended it as a pure, non-verbal expression, an emotional flood breaking free from the conscious. The contrast of these strong colours, creates the visual sense of release. Editor: And this idea of emotional expression aligns perfectly with the ethos of Abstract Expressionism. Galleries played a pivotal role in validating and promoting this subjective experience. The very act of creating art became a potent social and political statement, advocating freedom and individual experience during this turbulent era. The success of Abstract Expressionism legitimized a form of highly subjective expression within the art market, influencing galleries' direction for years to come. Curator: This definitely encapsulates that energy of that movement and I like the way that his approach helps redefine how to transmit personal feeling onto canvas without figuration. It prompts the viewer to actively feel rather than to passively interpret. Editor: Absolutely. "Hello," in its abstract declaration, speaks to a universal experience beyond the confines of a traditional greeting. Curator: Indeed, a visual burst echoing within us long after our initial encounter.