Porto delle galere 

Editor: "Porto delle galere," by Afro, looks to be created using acrylic paint in a matter-painting style. I find the clashing blocks of colour, mostly blacks and reds, create a sense of turmoil against the white backdrop. What compositional strategies stand out to you? Curator: It is essential to address the construction. Observe how Afro utilises dynamic tension. The composition resists a central focal point, opting instead for a network of interacting planes. Notice how the chromatic relationships – the interplay of red, black, and yellow – activate the white ground. Editor: The 'network of interacting planes' gives it depth, even without traditional perspective. Can we tie this strategy to Afro's modernism or abstract expressionist background? Curator: Precisely. Consider the deployment of gesture in Abstract Expressionism – the emphasis on the physical act of painting. How does Afro channel this energy through his deliberate brushwork and the layering of materials? It isn’t just representation but pure presence. The physicality is foregrounded over any illusion. Editor: I appreciate you pointing out that element of pure presence; I hadn’t connected the textural layering to Abstract Expressionism until you reframed it for me! Thank you. Curator: Indeed. I'm glad to offer insights into a richer formal understanding and the appreciation of dynamic forms in art.