Telamon in Motion 2010

Editor: Here we have Romul Nutiu’s 2010 work, "Telamon in Motion," crafted with acrylic paint. There's a vibrant, almost frantic energy to it, with clashing blues, oranges and blacks. How do you even begin to unpack a piece like this? What do you see in it? Curator: Frantic is a great word! It’s like…looking at a building in the midst of being built, or maybe even demolished. You get a sense of layered histories and possibilities all jumbled together. Those sharp geometric shapes—the squares and rectangles—feel architectural, right? But they're fighting with these looser, more expressive lines. Does that make sense, or am I just projecting my own love of ruins? Editor: I totally see what you mean about ruins. It does have that fragmented feel. So, is Nutiu deliberately playing with this idea of deconstruction? Curator: Possibly! Abstract Expressionism is all about expressing inner feelings and anxieties rather than representing reality directly. So perhaps Nutiu is externalizing an internal sense of disruption, a feeling that order is collapsing. The Telamon of the title alludes to Greek mythology: a Titan, a supporter of the heavens…Here that support is challenged with these bright and intense planes and shapes. How do you see that bright bold green fitting in the planes of color? Editor: Good point. Compared to all the angular forms and color blocks, the green is unexpectedly soft, even organic. I now get the building and the destruction –the building is covered in vines. Almost like nature is reclaiming what was man-made. Curator: I like that – it almost introduces a note of optimism! It isn't just about chaos; it is about regeneration, perhaps, after a monumental effort. It also reflects my own emotional landscape. So, thank you for helping me discover even more layers. Editor: It also got me thinking of this interplay between intention and perception – and maybe even the ‘death of the author’ in the age of AI and audio guides. Very thought provoking indeed.