Swedenborg 1951

Curator: This abstract work is titled "Swedenborg" by Serge Charchoune, completed in 1951 using graphite as the medium. It presents a fascinating example of the artist's exploration of organic forms within abstraction. What are your immediate impressions? Editor: It feels like a whisper, almost… like catching a half-forgotten dream on paper. The textures evoke a sense of being submerged, like peering through frosted glass, but the shapes are vaguely familiar. I keep expecting something to jump out, some secret revelation to emerge. Curator: It's intriguing you say that. Charchoune was deeply invested in the concept of spiritualism, and this piece reflects the artist’s interest in Emmanuel Swedenborg’s writings on visions and the spiritual world. Knowing this background, how do you read those "familiar shapes?" Editor: Knowing that shifts my perspective. I see hints of architectural structures, almost Gothic, obscured, or even fragmented letters—symbols perhaps pointing towards hidden meanings or spiritual messages. Maybe even personal glyphs of Charchoune. It now feels much less accidental. Curator: Indeed. Considering Abstract Expressionism, context often challenges traditional interpretations by giving viewers another lens that doesn't necessitate art for art’s sake, yet reveals ways abstract art communicates complex narratives reflecting social, political and spiritual circumstances. The work invites contemplation, allowing our interpretations of the "familiar shapes" to vary, reflecting individual experiences and contexts. Editor: Right, you have to wrestle with the picture! It fights you a bit. Still, I feel I get closer and closer. I'm reminded of Agnes Martin's ethereal pencil drawings. This makes me think the subtleties of this drawing also hint at something larger, an overwhelming spiritual question condensed into fragile graphite lines. The drawing seems so vulnerable yet resolved. Curator: Precisely. That delicate balance encapsulates the tension between abstraction and representation, making us question how we assign meaning. It reflects the artist’s fascination with making visible those aspects of life not easy to see or articulate. Editor: Exactly. To sit with this drawing feels less like looking, and more like… tuning in. Thank you, I needed that! Curator: Likewise. Delving into Charchoune's influences helped reveal the layers embedded within. Hopefully it also provides listeners the background to see more than meets the eye.