Untitled 1978

Editor: This is Joseph Marioni's "Untitled," a monochrome painting from 1978 rendered in acrylic paint. It's striking how a single field of color, a sort of deep teal, can feel so... vast. What do you make of it? Curator: Vast is a good word! For me, this painting is an invitation. Think of it as standing before the ocean. On the surface, it appears simple, uniform, but the more you gaze, the more you see the nuances of the light reflecting, the subtle shifts in tone. The teal becomes a world in itself. Doesn't it remind you of looking into the deep? Editor: Absolutely! It's less of a picture, and more of…an experience, maybe? Does the 'Untitled' title encourage a more personal interpretation? Curator: I think it absolutely does. The title encourages a reflective moment, where we look inward, and reflect on what the artwork stirs up in ourselves. Instead of telling us what to feel, the title lets us explore the raw emotive response. And sometimes, the lack of direction is the most liberating pathway of all. Editor: So, in a way, the "nothingness" of the subject is precisely the point. The monochrome invites you to go inward and connect with your experience. I see it now. Thanks for opening my eyes—and my mind—to this perspective. Curator: The pleasure was all mine. I am pleased to note that it now opens yours! Perhaps sometimes the most profound experiences await when we let go of expectations and simply *be* with the art.