Twelve Events in a Dual Universe 1978

Curator: We're standing before Alfred Jensen's "Twelve Events in a Dual Universe" from 1978, a complex mixed-media piece. Editor: Oh, wow. My first impression? It's like a beautifully chaotic math problem. Intricate, almost overwhelming with its colors and numbers… it's doing something to my brain. Curator: Indeed. Jensen, heavily influenced by mathematical systems, structures this work using grids and numerical sequences. Notice how each of the twelve sections, each meticulously labeled, functions as an individual equation or proposition within this dual universe. Editor: Dual universe, huh? Is that why there are those blocks on top of each equation. It's hard to tell if there is a pattern here, but is it like two different ways of seeing or calculating things sitting side by side? The handwritten text gives it the air of both science and a mystic symbol, though, which makes me question reality. Curator: Precisely. Jensen sought to bridge the gap between art, science, and philosophy. The serial nature of the piece invites comparative analysis, encouraging us to decode the visual relationships embedded within his self-made symbolic language. The color choices also contribute to this dialogue. Observe how he uses vibrant colors in sharp contrast. This helps with delineating each individual square and creating further structural integrity. Editor: Definitely see that now, yeah! Each block jumps out, yet contributes to the whole. Those little explosions of reds, blues, and yellows against the calmer blacks and whites— it’s so visually stimulating. It kind of reminds me of staring into a kaleidoscope. A total mental playground! I see the visual rhythm of the numbers with the vibrant colors almost forming this symphony with no obvious meaning! It makes the abstract concept approachable! Curator: Ultimately, "Twelve Events in a Dual Universe" represents Jensen’s unique perspective that reflects an ongoing investigation into the harmony of structure and chance that characterize both the cosmic and the human experience. It merges systems of human rationalization with free play which ultimately gives the image it's rich meaning. Editor: Right. What seemed like visual noise at first is so intentionally put together to give harmony in a dual-layer painting. I would almost be able to see some of the connections as long as I could just simply focus and observe without fear of being wrong. It really gives you a playground to make whatever connections you can find from its vast ocean of thought!