Inner Space 1986

Editor: This is Luciano Bartolini's "Inner Space," made in 1986 using acrylic paint. It strikes me as a really dynamic composition, with these strong black lines slashing across the soft, mottled purple background, punctuated by these almost playful yellow circles. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The arrangement immediately reminded me of constellations—perhaps a fragmented celestial map. Do you see how the stark black lines, like ink spills, almost aggressively bisect the gentle, almost ethereal ground? And those yellow orbs—are they suns, planets, or merely points of concentrated energy? Editor: Yes, I see that now! I hadn't thought of constellations but the circles definitely look like planets. So, are you saying that the composition is intentionally disrupting something? Curator: Perhaps not disrupting, but revealing. Think about what lies beneath the surface. The black slashes might represent a kind of primal energy, an uncensored expression crashing through a more formally composed reality, or maybe it's about deconstructing existing symbolism and finding new forms. What resonates most with you? Editor: I think I’m drawn to the contrast, the tension. The serenity of the background versus the drama of those strong lines. They feel almost…violent? Curator: Violence, or perhaps assertion? Consider the color yellow, traditionally a symbol of knowledge and intellect. The stark black gestures assert an alternative, a visceral pathway to knowledge that opposes pure reason. The image embodies two different aspects of memory. Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn't considered the possible symbolism of the colours themselves! It definitely provides another entry point into thinking about it. Curator: Indeed. It's these subtle interplays that make abstract work so compelling; cultural memory and immediate emotional impact coexisting within the same frame. Editor: This really gave me a new lens for how I can engage with abstract art, and notice these symbols at play!