Untitled 2019

Curator: Looking at this untitled mixed-media drawing by Thomas Riesner, created in 2019, what are your initial thoughts? Editor: My immediate reaction is…unease. The raw, almost visceral quality of the lines and the stark red splashes give it a distinctly unsettling atmosphere. What do you make of it? Curator: Indeed. I’m particularly struck by the deliberate roughness of the line work, executed using ink. See how the stark black contrasts against the white background. The use of line emphasizes the almost skeletal form depicted, furthering that feeling of unease. Editor: And that figuration teetering on the edge of abstraction, doesn't it remind you of anxieties inherent in the 21st century, with its distorted forms and fractured identities mirroring current sociopolitical disruptions? Curator: It is relevant to see how figuration has often reflected states of disruption, absolutely. What is compelling is the artist's method of creating form: note the limited color palette contributes to the powerful emotional impact. The eye is immediately drawn to those bleeds of red. Editor: It almost feels like the piece is actively resisting resolution, embodying a sense of perpetual crisis in line with much contemporary work. One wonders, what cultural narrative is the artist responding to in a space saturated with news, visual culture, and a shared awareness of global happenings? Curator: Or perhaps it reflects on more personal and private turmoil within contemporary existence. Regardless, there's something powerful about how Riesner uses abstraction and line to evoke such strong feelings. Editor: I agree. It's that rawness, that unfiltered expression of…something, that really grabs you. An appropriate response to what it is trying to portray. Curator: Exactly. This is a very potent example of art's capacity to embody abstract anxiety. Editor: Agreed. Thomas Riesner's work provokes essential questions regarding both inner sentiments and a shared awareness of cultural issues, underscoring its significance.