Atlantis 1977

Curator: So here we are in front of “Atlantis,” a 1977 painting by Vangel Naumovski. A swirl of shapes suspended in what appears to be the deep blue sea. Editor: It’s really interesting… sort of weightless, suspended, like seaweed dancing in the currents. I find it rather calming, despite all that’s going on. Curator: It’s all abstraction here, a pure play of form. Notice how Naumovski uses the interplay of curved lines and rounded shapes to create a sense of movement, right? The forms don't quite resolve into anything representational, which I find very intriguing. The palette—blues, greens, whites— is really evocative. Editor: True. You know, the name, “Atlantis,” sets me thinking of something ancient and lost, rediscovered as shapes rising up from the depths. The lines remind me of ship's rigging or maybe some sort of forgotten architecture. Curator: Naumovski’s works frequently use geometric forms, which we can certainly see here, and yet he softens everything. The colour field background isn’t hard-edged; it seems to be airbrushed, which softens it up, right? Editor: Definitely. This adds to the underwater, dreamy effect. Those white lines seem to float above it, suggesting perhaps sunlight filtering down. They have such energy, yet the composition remains very serene. Almost otherworldly. Curator: A Formalist might find the layering of line, shape, and colour significant; one form plays against another, to create meaning. The very essence of abstraction here lets us tap into our deepest imagination. I mean it sparks connections we might not have thought about making. It almost feels as if something significant is emerging from those fluid forms and shapes. Editor: It truly does. Well, I’ve found my journey to Atlantis incredibly thought-provoking and surprising today. How about you? Curator: Oh, yes. Seeing such a captivating abstract work by Naumovski opens our mind up and transports us in unpredictable and thrilling directions.