Avec Lewis Carrol 

Curator: We're looking at "Avec Lewis Carrol," a mixed-media painting by Pierre Alechinsky. Editor: Well, first off, there’s a frenzy to it. A dense and layered collection of figures – are they portraits? – fighting for space on the canvas. It almost overwhelms the eye with its chaotic energy. Curator: Alechinsky emerged in the post-war period, aligning himself with movements like COBRA, responding to the established art world with raw, expressive art that embraced experimentation and spontaneity. It was a departure from the more rigid art hierarchies of the time. Editor: You can see that rebellious spirit in the very application of the materials. The thick layering of paint, what looks like acrylic, possibly combined with textile elements, shows a real interest in process. I want to know how he built up these layers, the physical act of creating the surface. Curator: Considering the title, one might interpret the numerous figures as characters from Lewis Carroll's works, rendered through the lens of Alechinsky’s distinct visual language. There's a suggestion of narrative, a dreamlike quality that reflects Carroll's surreal world. Editor: It strikes me as an exploration of mass production of images. It looks as though Alechinsky repeated some heads or body gestures across the painting and that recalls production lines, in opposition to "unique artworks". Are the individual elements as important as the artwork itself, or the opposite? The abundance makes each one kind of anonymous, though brightly colored. Curator: Absolutely. Alechinsky's work, while visually captivating, also challenged the conventional spaces and purposes of art. His choices opened the doors for different forms of social engagement within the art world. Editor: Agreed. Looking closely at how Alechinsky manipulated these mediums offers insight into how he saw his role as a maker, maybe even questioning that role. This approach gives value to materiality and also asks pertinent questions on consumption habits. Curator: This painting certainly sparks questions about the stories we tell, how we see ourselves and our relationship to culture and how art is an extension of life. Editor: Yes, and by thinking about how the painting was made, what was used, and what it represents, can change how one perceives not just Alechinsky’s art, but art in a broader cultural context.