Dimensions: support: 1527 x 1013 mm frame: 1542 x 1034 x 48 mm
Copyright: © The estate of Bryan Wynter | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: Bryan Wynter's "Mars Ascends" is a striking painting. The abstract forms and muted colors create an almost unsettling atmosphere. What can you tell me about the context in which this work was created? Curator: Considering Wynter's career, this painting probably reflects the Cold War era's anxieties, yet it also hints at the burgeoning space race. Do you see how the composition, with its dark palette and fragmented shapes, evokes both technological advancement and potential destruction? Editor: I do see that now! It’s interesting to think about how anxieties of the time could shape abstract art. Curator: Exactly. Wynter’s work exemplifies how socio-political forces subtly influence artistic expression, shaping how we perceive and interact with art. Editor: I never really thought about abstract paintings reflecting cultural anxieties, but it makes perfect sense. Thanks for shedding light on that.
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The title of this painting may refer to the rising dominance of the colour Mars red. However, the picture also reflects Wynter’s interest in organic processes and the collective unconscious. For this painting Wynter applied each calligraphic mark in response to the preceding marks. This procedure was based on a scientific theory about the growth of organic forms. In theory, imposing an order derived from nature reduced the role of the artist’s ego in making a picture, and allowed the picture to grow naturally out of the artist’s subconscious. Gallery label, September 2004
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