[no title] 1991

Curator: This untitled work by Alan Charlton presents a study in monochrome abstraction. The dimensions of the image are 225 by 225 millimeters. Editor: Stark. The black square centered against the off-white ground creates an immediate tension—oppression, almost. Curator: The beauty lies precisely in that tension. Charlton reduces form to its essence, exploring the spatial relationships between simple geometric shapes. Editor: But can we ignore the larger context? Monochrome art, particularly in black, often carries associations with mourning, with social or political protest. Curator: Perhaps, but the work invites contemplation of form itself. The subtle texture of the paper, the precise edges of the square—these are integral to its meaning. Editor: It seems rather like a symbol for minimalist resistance to noise, an artistic statement in an age saturated with images. Curator: Precisely, it’s an act of visual paring down, compelling us to reconsider our perceptions. Editor: And in that reduction, perhaps, lies a powerful statement of refusal.