Alborada de guerra 

Editor: This is “Alborada de Guerra” by Esteban Frances, and what stands out to me is the fiery color palette. It's like looking at a landscape after an explosion, or maybe even the surface of Mars. What kind of a story do you think this piece tells? Curator: It’s a powerful piece. I see it speaking to the historical moment in which it was likely created – a world steeped in the anxieties of war, particularly during and after the World Wars. The title itself, “Dawn of War,” suggests a foreboding sense of the sociopolitical landscape. How do you interpret the semi-abstracted architectural forms in relation to this theme? Editor: I guess they look like the remnants of buildings. So you are saying that abstract forms are also part of that collective feeling or moment? Curator: Precisely. The abstract and expressionist style serves as a potent visual language to depict the emotional and societal upheaval. Consider how institutions, shaped by those very conflicts, would have been grappling with themes of destruction and rebuilding. It asks questions about how society remembers, rebuilds, or even glorifies moments of conflict. Editor: That makes me think about the role galleries played in showing artworks depicting political moments or social conflicts, reflecting the changes in society. Curator: Exactly. The art world isn’t separate from those turbulent forces. These galleries shaped, and were shaped by, the cultural and socio-political dynamics of the period. How do you think viewers, then and now, might react to such a vision of societal disruption and rebirth? Editor: I can only imagine the viewers reflecting on the recent events that had deeply affected their society. Thanks! I've never really looked at abstract expressionism this way. Curator: My pleasure, it's crucial to analyze art’s relationship with history, culture, and social environment to extract greater understanding about it.