Flori 

Curator: We are looking at “Flori” by Ion Pacea, an expressionist acrylic painting of flowers that embraces neo and abstract expressionist styles. Editor: My first thought is, explosive. It's like a floral bouquet got caught in a wind tunnel, and the colors, oh, they’re a riot, but in a strangely pleasing way! Curator: Exactly! The bold brushstrokes are quite typical of expressionism as a way to communicate the inner state of the artist rather than portraying the external appearance. And considering expressionism, it emerged from a cultural context of deep anxiety about modernity. Editor: That resonates. The impasto is incredibly thick; you can almost feel the texture. It's as if the artist were wrestling with the medium, grappling with something unspoken while building these shapes. Each stroke feels like a separate, urgent decision. Curator: That reminds me of matter-painting. The themes related to it embrace this almost aggressive physical engagement with the paint as an end in itself. Now, Romanian art was in a pretty tough spot, in general, by the middle of the 20th century under the communist regime. Art that stepped out of line faced heavy critique or worse. So maybe the "explosive" quality is not just an artistic choice but also reflects that. Editor: Oh, wow, that shifts things, doesn't it? The dark teal background feels almost like a veil of secrecy now. It’s interesting how these "safe" subject matters, such as flower painting, can be containers for hidden rebellious thoughts, and a place where it is actually expressed as a material thing, like what you say. Curator: Precisely! This might explain why it can only be understood as expressionist in retrospect. This painting definitely proves that art doesn't exist in a vacuum; social circumstances and personal stories feed into its meaning. Editor: It is like the silent screams. And I find it fascinating how, despite what seems to be, let's say, visual chaos, there's something quite structured underneath. As if it hints that freedom actually arises out of restrictions and a strong need of communicating things! Well, that gives the piece a unique kind of strength, actually! Curator: Indeed. A lot to unpack! I find it fascinating how our different points of view contribute to seeing an artwork's different, equally real facets. Editor: Me too. You helped me realize that my guts, are historical ones.