[title not known] 1998 - 1999

Editor: This print by Patrick Heron in the Tate collection features these amoeba-like shapes in yellow and orange against a vibrant purple backdrop. It feels both playful and a bit mysterious. What do you see in this piece, especially considering the time it was made? Curator: Well, looking at Heron's work through a historical lens, his embrace of abstraction in the post-war period was a deliberate move away from representational art tied to nationalistic agendas. The decentralization of form mirrors a societal shift, right? Editor: That's interesting. So the ambiguity is part of the point? Curator: Exactly! And consider the institutional context. The rise of abstract expressionism was heavily promoted by institutions, subtly aligning with Cold War ideologies of freedom. This work plays into that context. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It highlights the complex interplay between art, politics and cultural narratives of the time.