Head VII 1998

Editor: This is Per Inge Bjørlo’s "Head VII." Looking at the stark blacks and whites, the image has this intense, almost chaotic feeling. What strikes you when you examine its formal qualities? Curator: The dynamism is undeniable. The artist uses line not just to delineate form, but to create a sense of fractured space. Observe how the lines intersect and disrupt the implied volume of the head. What effect does that have? Editor: It makes me think of broken thoughts or the pressure of internal conflict. So, you see the lines as more than just outlines? Curator: Precisely. They function as vectors, directing the eye and creating tension. Consider, too, the contrast between the solid outline of the head and the chaotic interior. It’s a study in duality. Editor: I see now how the composition contributes to that feeling. It’s not just a head; it's an exploration of form and emotion through line and contrast. Curator: Indeed. The materiality of the printmaking process itself—the etching, the ink—adds another layer to the work's complex visual language.