Egyptian Gate 1964

Curator: This striking abstract painting is “Egyptian Gate” by Horia Damian, completed in 1964. The artist employed watercolor and acrylic to construct the image we see here. Editor: The overwhelming impression is of yellow, a textured, almost luminous yellow. The rough texture gives the sense of a physical object, a weighty panel of some sort. It evokes sunlight, a very powerful image. Curator: Absolutely. Damian's interest in monumental architecture and ancient forms deeply informs this work. During this period, many artists were fascinated by the perceived mystical connection to the power structures that were used to create authority during Antiquity and which continued to shape modernity. This is also an exercise in how an archaic symbol such as a gate could suggest passage. Editor: I'm interested in the shape—a very basic rectangle within a rectangle. It is reduced to its essence. But that layering also creates depth, and I wonder if he is referring to the literal depths of the archeological site. What seems at first glance like an impassable object actually becomes permeable once the suggestion of space appears. Curator: Indeed. I also find the texture intriguing. It almost suggests a weathered surface, like a gate that has stood for millennia. Editor: It certainly creates a beautiful tension: an illusion of solidity conveyed through such ephemeral, luminous colors. Curator: The title itself pushes one to make cultural connections between modernism and ancient Egypt through geometry. While abstract, it's engaging with architectural and historical symbolism. Editor: It’s interesting to see how color and basic form interact to become something loaded with a visual complexity and socio-political considerations. Curator: Looking at “Egyptian Gate” gives me a clearer understanding of the artist’s oeuvre, which makes the symbolism here so enticing. Editor: For me, the image of this gate stays, hovering between light and shadow long after I look away.