Curatorial notes
Curator: Looking at this vibrantly colored mixed-media piece, Walter Battiss's "Untitled," one immediately senses a dialogue between the figural and the abstract. It makes me consider the historical tensions and the relationship of each element in terms of how the composition makes commentary on form and the artist’s role. Editor: I'm struck by how ancient it feels, though undeniably modern. The simplified figures, coupled with what looks like an unknown script, give it the aura of a forgotten civilization—perhaps a vibrant, playful one? The colors almost hum with energy, and they evoke thoughts about archaic practices or civilizations like Egypt or Crete. Curator: That's an interesting point, bringing up those histories. From my perspective, understanding Battiss’s positionality as a South African artist at a time of intense political strife, I interpret those glyphs not so much as an echo of the archaic, but more as a kind of coded language of resistance—a way of asserting identity beyond the oppressive constraints of his environment. The tension between figuration and the suggestion of text allows for a multiplicity of narratives that could easily shift depending on who is viewing. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. To me, the arrangement and presentation feel deeply psychological. Note how one form appears to embrace the other—red and green—perhaps a study on inner harmony or integration. That the "writing" isn’t readily legible strengthens the sense of internal, perhaps even spiritual journeying or introspection. Curator: Absolutely, it allows the personal to act politically. It feels deliberate how Battiss utilizes the language of Pop Art through simplification of forms, high contrasting color to catch the viewer’s eye, almost as if demanding, through simple joy and contrast, for a deep engagement that would allow a viewer to work beyond its superficial qualities. It makes you want to sit and read, or interpret the symbols yourself! Editor: In short, Battiss crafted a space of contemplation through form, color, and symbolism; it urges viewers to connect with fundamental emotions and explore the potential meanings hidden beneath the surface. Curator: I would say it’s a reflection of South Africa's struggles to express through imposed constraints, and to define through that the individual’s social and personal identity and meaning in those very difficult circumstances.
