Untitled (SFP94-109, SFF.1757) 1994

Editor: We’re looking at Sam Francis’s “Untitled (SFP94-109, SFF.1757)” from 1994, created with mixed media including acrylic paint. It strikes me as both chaotic and vibrant, this dance of colors… How do you see it? Curator: The “chaos,” as you put it, is crucial. Let’s consider the means of production: flung paint, varied viscosity acrylics. Francis isn't just applying pigment; he’s engaging in a physical process. This method democratizes artmaking, rejecting traditional hierarchies of skill and celebrating materiality and process. Does the "drip" aesthetic prompt thoughts regarding the work's creation? Editor: Definitely. It makes me wonder about the physicality of making this piece, especially considering that it’s a mixed media artwork. Could we see it as an act against commercialism, a turn to tangible practice? Curator: Exactly. Abstract Expressionism can be viewed as a direct reaction against the increasingly consumerist culture following World War II. By emphasizing the physical act of painting, and showcasing its materiality, Francis resists the commodification of art, highlighting process over product. It asks the viewer to appreciate labor and material, pushing against the clean lines of mass-produced goods. Editor: That’s such an interesting viewpoint – to connect the material reality of the painting to broader economic forces at play during the era it was created. Now I see the material handling almost as a rebellion. Curator: Precisely. It compels us to ponder on art's position and how the creation process inherently holds significance when examined alongside prevailing societal dynamics. I will continue to look through a different scope going forward.