Thorns 2016

Editor: This is "Thorns," an acrylic on canvas by Nemanja Vučković, created in 2016. I find the bold use of yellow both jarring and energetic, almost aggressively bright. What do you make of this abstract explosion? Curator: Aggressive is a good word! For me, it's like looking at sunshine filtered through a barbed-wire fence. The "thorns" are those slashing black and green lines. It feels impulsive, visceral, like a burst of pent-up emotion laid bare on the canvas. Don't you think? Editor: Yes, absolutely. It feels so immediate, almost painful. The name "Thorns" also feels very appropriate. Can you talk more about the style and its connection to abstract expressionism? Curator: The all-over composition, the gestural marks, the emphasis on surface and texture – all those things scream abstract expressionism. Think Pollock’s energy or de Kooning’s raw brushstrokes, but distilled into this smaller, more concentrated burst. It lacks their monumentality, maybe, but not their fervor. Does that resonate with you? Editor: It does, definitely. I see it now – the energy condensed, like a concentrated dose of angst! I appreciate that you’ve articulated that, as it helps clarify my reading of the piece. Curator: That's the beautiful thing about art, isn't it? It’s a dialogue, not just between the artist and the canvas, but between the art and its audience. Finding words to describe that dialogue can be illuminating. Editor: Definitely! I will view abstract art a little bit differently now. Thanks!