Mexico COLOLA 1983

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to Sean Scully’s "Mexico COLOLA," a watercolor and pencil piece created in 1983. Editor: My first impression is one of grounded serenity. The soft watercolors and the structured lines offer a meditative balance, don't you think? A visual hymn almost. Curator: It's interesting you say that. I see the use of color here as indicative of socio-political contrasts during the ‘80s, an era marked by heightened global tensions. The blocks of color— the rigid horizontality—could represent societal structures, restrictive norms, or perhaps the stratification within social classes at that time. Editor: I’m struck by how the alternating bands of color—the earth tones, the blues, the yellows—recall visual motifs of ancient cultures and architecture. Think of the stepped pyramids in various indigenous traditions or the painted murals found in temples; these forms can signify humanity’s perennial effort to connect with the spiritual realm. Curator: The layering of colors is also relevant when looking at Scully's broader body of work. This emphasis on horizontal layering has been seen as alluding to issues related to migration and border controls—the restrictive nature of borders, the arbitrary separation of peoples. This approach invites us to consider not just the aesthetic qualities of the piece, but the politics inherent within abstract forms. Editor: Yes, and the repetitive use of these simple geometric shapes generates a rhythmic cadence that invites introspection. To me, each color block is a marker in time, creating an echo of past civilizations, or maybe even the echoes of a culture on the verge of either a breakthrough or a breaking point. Curator: And it's vital that we interpret these echoes. Art can often give form to cultural shifts. What Scully presents could be seen as more than personal; his artwork offers an understanding of the broader forces shaping social reality at any given time. Editor: Indeed. Ultimately, both our views enrich the artwork, creating space to consider visual symbolism in connection to politics. Curator: A convergence which deepens our dialogue around how historical context impacts how art influences societal change.