Battle of Flowers 1968

Editor: Here we have Eileen Agar's "Battle of Flowers," a painting from 1968 rendered in acrylic. The geometric forms and vibrant colours give it such a playful, almost aggressive, energy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The title itself is a key, isn’t it? ‘Battle of Flowers.’ It conjures ancient rituals of spring, renewal, even conflict couched in the language of the floral and beautiful. Look at these two central, almost symmetrical forms. What do they remind you of? Editor: Almost like strange, blooming flowers, or perhaps even…cells under a microscope? Curator: Precisely. They are biomorphic shapes echoing natural forms, while also being undeniably abstract. Notice the spikes, the inner swirl, like a tightly coiled spring. And what might these suggest within a ‘battle’? Editor: A sense of underlying tension? They seem poised, ready to either bloom or…detonate. It feels like a visual representation of contained energy. Curator: And how do the colors contribute? That vibrant, almost clashing palette wasn't chosen randomly. Agar, a significant figure in the British Surrealist movement, was deeply invested in symbolism. Color, for her, held potent emotional and psychological weight. Are these combative hues or complementary shades, poised for concord? Editor: I see both. There's definitely a push and pull. Learning about her interests certainly shifts my perspective. It isn't just decoration, but a visual language brimming with symbolism. Curator: Absolutely. Agar saw art as a process of constant discovery and reinterpretation. Consider that, and ask yourself: what continues to reveal itself, what stays obscure and fascinating about the eternal Battle?