Blue Waterfall 2011

Editor: This is "Blue Waterfall" by Romul Nutiu, painted in 2011. It's a matter-painting using acrylic. The blues and greens really jump out, giving it this vibrant yet overwhelming feel. What symbols or deeper meanings do you see embedded within this abstract expression? Curator: The symbolism resonates on a couple of levels. The waterfall itself, abstracted as it is, evokes ideas of flow, change, and purification. Water, of course, is a universal symbol, deeply connected to life and subconscious. Then you have the colours themselves. Blue, often associated with serenity and the spiritual. But there is black bordering, acting almost as a visual constraint. Editor: Interesting. The darkness surrounding the 'waterfall'. So it’s less about pure, unadulterated joy, and more about…a tempered expression? Curator: Precisely! The splashes of colour, the aggressive brushstrokes, it is tempered but still vibrant. I look at that singular dash of red and consider; is that supposed to indicate a singular action from mankind upon a natural vista? The colour red always has power. The waterfall, representing nature's relentless power, juxtaposed with these artistic, arguably unnatural colourings. Editor: I hadn't considered how intentional those colours may have been. I saw the brighter shades and assumed the image may be completely positive and carefree. Curator: An image so dominated by one primary colour still gives visual cues from many other points in the spectrum! How have you interpreted landscape imagery within your own artwork or visual consumption, Editor? Editor: It's useful to have my assumptions challenged; next time I come across an abstracted landscape, I'll think about those competing symbolisms. Curator: Absolutely, remember, every choice contributes to the grand, communicative capacity. I see this work and remember that continuity; from Hokusai’s Great Wave, to this 21st century abstracted torrent, that emotional weight echoes.