Flowing in the Right Direction 1971

Editor: So, this is Peter Schmidt's "Flowing in the Right Direction." I'm struck by how this figure, surrounded by text, seems to be exhaling something… almost like an idea. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful commentary on the artistic process itself. Schmidt was deeply engaged with systems thinking, which he then translated into generative art. Consider how the figure, perhaps an artist, is situated within a field of text, a field of knowledge. Do you see that field as supportive or constraining? Editor: Constraining, perhaps? All that text seems overwhelming. Curator: Precisely. It’s suggestive of the weight of history, theory, expectation. But the figure exhales, seemingly pushing against that, creating something new and liberated. The colours and lines provide a sense of freedom. What do you think about that? Editor: I never thought about it that way. It does seem hopeful. Curator: It certainly does, and it gives us hope to push our own boundaries.