Untitled 1981

Editor: This is an Untitled oil painting by Manoucher Yektai, created in 1981. The thick impasto is quite striking! It makes the whole scene feel textured and almost edible. What catches your eye about it? Curator: Immediately, I am drawn to the tension between representation and abstraction. The painting flirts with still life, suggesting a tabletop scene, yet the exaggerated brushstrokes dissolve the forms into pure color and texture. The lower register, suggestive of a checkered surface, creates a grounding plane, doesn’t it? Editor: It does, although the perspective seems slightly off, which adds to that tension. So you’re saying it’s the visual push and pull between something recognizable and pure abstraction that makes this piece interesting? Curator: Precisely. Note how Yektai manipulates the viscosity of the oil paint, creating peaks and valleys of color. Consider how these thick daubs interact with light, creating shadows and highlights that further abstract the underlying forms. Is there anything in the composition itself that resonates with you? Editor: The plate. It feels central, though it almost blends with the checked background, yet, I cannot decide whether that’s on purpose. The greens are interesting too - how they play against the dominant blues. Curator: Yes, that limited palette is key. Yektai establishes chromatic harmony which allows the surface and the pictorial space to oscillate. These observations reveal the structural intelligence guiding Yektai's expressionism. Editor: That's helpful! I see how the tension you mentioned plays out on many levels: representation versus abstraction, harmony versus dissonance. Curator: And within that framework, we find a new way to explore, and express. This examination really emphasizes Yektai's deep understanding of color theory and textural contrast to invite active spectatorship.