Nr 4 2020

Curator: Armin Andreas Pangerl, a German artist, created this intriguing piece, "Nr 4," in 2020. The artwork combines drawing with ink on paper, creating a very distinct style I’d qualify as modern. It presents a cityscape... but not quite in the way one might expect. Editor: My first impression is that this feels almost like a map, or some kind of coded message! It's like looking into the artist’s mind, all these architectural thoughts and geometric shapes spilling out, all rendered in stark lines. There is some writing around too... almost feels dreamlike or even cryptic! Curator: Precisely! It draws on Modernist traditions but infuses them with personal narrative. The integration of text suggests the artist is actively engaging with the socio-political landscape while filtering it through their unique, subjective experience. We can read his hand-written comments dispersed throughout the image that invite introspection in relation to outside historical context, but which remains a puzzle due to language constraints. Editor: I definitely get a sense of narrative. I love the way it juxtaposes recognizable city motifs with almost chaotic abstract sections. Is the intention perhaps to blur the line between internal and external realities? Maybe we are all living in cityscapes that have an entirely interior reality to them? I get the feeling that Pangerl did a lot more than simply recreate a cityscape here. Curator: Well, you have got me thinking. Consider the date. In 2020, the whole world was dealing with some unprecedented isolation, anxiety and global interconnectedness via the internet. Perhaps Pangerl here sought to convey exactly that! What do you make of his utilization of precise geometric drawing within these contexts? Editor: I appreciate your perspective regarding our political climate! It makes it more grounded and relevant for viewers today. But also there’s this wonderful sense of playful curiosity present. It invites you to decipher its puzzles. It’s like Pangerl invites us all to join his thought process! Curator: Exactly. Ultimately, the piece challenges our preconceived notions about space and identity, about reality and the dream space, all in a tumultuous year we’d prefer to not relive, and yet here it stands. It also speaks volumes of our modern need to engage with political themes through visual outlets. Editor: Agreed. "Nr 4" becomes this fascinating document, reflecting the anxieties and fascinations of its time in such a thought-provoking and beautiful manner. Thanks for unlocking that.