[no title] 1981

Editor: This print by Richard Smith features geometric forms, a rectangle overlaid by a semi-circular shape. I find the muted tones quite calming. What do you see in this work? Curator: The semi-circle, bisected, evokes ancient symbols of cycles, rebirth, and wholeness. The rectangle behind it might symbolize the material world, partially obscuring the eternal. Do you see any tension between these two symbols? Editor: I do – the hard edges versus the soft curve create a sense of dynamic contrast. Curator: Exactly. It highlights how Smith uses symbolic forms to suggest the interplay between the temporal and the infinite, and the enduring quest for balance. Editor: That tension makes me see the image differently. Thanks!