Double Eye 2011

Curator: We’re standing in front of “Double Eye,” an acrylic on canvas created by Raoul De Keyser in 2011. Editor: It feels airy and quiet, almost minimalist. That soft yellow shape against the pale blue… it's subtly unsettling. What are your initial thoughts about it? Curator: For me, it's about the context of De Keyser’s broader artistic practice. His work challenges the expectations of abstraction. This piece, though seemingly simple, embodies a history of challenging the traditional heroic scale and gesture we often associate with abstract painting. How do you think contemporary audiences are receiving works of this nature? Editor: I think they are likely receptive to it. There's a renewed interest in art that steps outside dominant power structures, opting instead for introspective contemplation and subtle, almost quiet acts of artistic assertion. To me, it brings up a lot about the meaning of perception and its relation to the idea of identity. I perceive two 'eyes', like openings to be seen and look outwards. Are these openings symbolic or merely aesthetic elements in this abstraction? Curator: Precisely. De Keyser, within his broader political vision, questions what is worth viewing. And this simple motif...is it looking at us or representing our own self-perception? His quiet approach makes viewers engage critically, challenging the commodification and spectacle often found in contemporary art spaces. The almost unassuming quality of the piece demands attention in its own way. Editor: It's this ambiguity, this space for interpretation, that’s so crucial. And in understanding that space, what power dynamics come into play that influence what we bring and how we look to an artwork like this. Ultimately, whose gaze does it truly represent, given our societal biases. Curator: It makes one think about how institutions shape how we perceive this artwork's artistic and social worth. Raoul De Keyser leaves enough open in his art that everyone has room to project their own vision onto his images. Editor: An important perspective as we navigate this space together. It certainly complicates how we view abstraction. Curator: Indeed. I hope visitors leave here with a little changed perception.