Mother 1 1993

Editor: Here we have Małgorzata Serwatka's "Mother 1," painted in 1993. The palette is predominantly pink, with yellows and reds interspersed throughout. I’m immediately struck by the… unexpected composition. How do you interpret this work, given its abstract yet figurative style? Curator: The composition is indeed striking. Focus on the use of color. Notice how the pink tonality is not uniform; Serwatka employs various shades and hues, creating depth and dimension despite the apparent flatness of the forms. Consider how these pinks interact with the yellows and reds. Editor: The colors certainly do seem to play off of each other, and create distinct spaces within the canvas, like a kind of patterned background, against which other features, like the other faces float in the top portion of the composition. Curator: Precisely. Also note the brushstrokes: Observe the texture created by the artist's application of paint. Do you see a consistent pattern or rhythm in these strokes? How might this contribute to the overall reading of the work? Editor: There seems to be directionality to them, like an expressionistic underlayer, but does the subject matter compete with this sense of movement? Curator: Interesting observation. It is possible that the tension arises from the contrast between the flowing, energetic background and the stillness of the seated figure, creating a visual dynamic. Editor: I now see it as less of a depiction, and more of a pure art object. I came in with all these preconceived notions of what a ‘Mother’ should look like, but the elements on the canvas tell their own story. Curator: Indeed. We begin with an understanding, and it changes with greater insight into materiality, construction, and presentation of elements in total independence.