Inferno V 1967

Curator: Sidney Nolan's "Inferno V" plunges us into a disorienting space. The figures seem to be falling or floating against a gradient background. What's your initial reaction? Editor: It's chaotic, unsettling. The figures are so pale, almost ghostly, against that fiery backdrop. It feels like a descent, a loss of control. Curator: Nolan often explored themes of myth and history. The title itself points to Dante's "Inferno," suggesting a journey through hell. Notice how the bodies are rendered, fragmented and vulnerable. Editor: Absolutely, the fragmentation speaks volumes. And those stark limbs, almost devoid of detail, convey a sense of anonymity, of lost souls tumbling through space. Curator: The color palette, too, is crucial. The shift from blue to orange and red evokes a sense of heat, of burning. It's a visceral representation of suffering. Editor: It definitely gets under your skin. Makes you wonder about the human condition, the fragility of existence. Curator: It's a powerful work, prompting us to confront uncomfortable truths. Editor: True, a stark reminder of the depths of human experience.