Sunset Garden 1968

Curator: What a whimsical, otherworldly scene. I’m immediately struck by the bold colours and peculiar geometric shapes. Editor: It is striking! We’re looking at Vangel Naumovski's “Sunset Garden”, an acrylic painting from 1968. Given the period, Naumovski’s modernist and surrealist leanings feel aligned with that moment. It's fascinating to consider its relationship to the political upheavals of the late '60s; maybe this represents a kind of escapism? Curator: Yes, escapism, or perhaps a re-imagining of the world! Notice how he juxtaposes elements—geometric abstraction alongside surreal biomorphic forms. This tension makes the image vibrate with symbolic potential. The floating rings could suggest technological advancement, orbiting nature. Editor: You know, the orb-like shapes make me think of alchemical symbols, a blending of earthly and celestial realms. That recurring motif of the circle certainly echoes wholeness, completion. Consider the red dot too; it brings a folklore touch, evoking a sense of wonder, maybe hinting at childhood. Curator: Folklore ties in! This painting arrived a decade after Marshal Tito formally broke with Stalinism, charting Yugoslavia's course outside the Soviet Bloc. Naumovski seems to be tapping into a deeply-rooted humanism in the region and also advocating for a kind of freedom of expression. I read those tall vertical, phallic forms as standing proud and celebrating this expression. Editor: I see those tall forms too, they echo a longing for connection. It feels hopeful, doesn’t it? Even with its strangeness, it draws you in with familiar shapes and colours, almost as if trying to convey a shared cultural memory. Curator: I think you've highlighted that key theme—it’s not merely escapist, but restorative. "Sunset Garden" proposes an alternative world order—where humanity exists within and in harmony with nature. Editor: A powerful vision that resonates beyond its specific time and place. What starts as alien landscape becomes a space for considering wholeness. Curator: Agreed. Its bold optimism reminds us of the enduring human capacity to envision new possibilities even amidst the chaos of existence.