PLACNTON II 2017

Editor: This is 'PLACNTON II' created by Requena Nozal in 2017, using acrylic paint. At first glance, the dark background makes the various colored shapes really pop. What are your initial impressions? Curator: From a formalist perspective, the interplay of color and form is immediately striking. Observe how the artist manipulates the negative space; the black matrix pushes the chromatic, amoeba-like shapes forward. It creates a dynamic tension, a visual vibration across the canvas. Do you perceive how the colour fields within each shape contribute to this effect? Editor: I do, the variations in hue within each shape makes the overall effect quite vibrant. Does the arrangement suggest a certain kind of movement? Curator: Precisely! The distribution, their proximity and orientation create a non-hierarchical composition that defies a single focal point. It encourages the eye to wander, establishing an all-over pattern rather typical of some modes of abstract expressionism. How does the materiality of the acrylic—its sheen and texture—play into this? Editor: I can see how the slight gloss adds depth, almost like looking into a pool of liquid. Are there other formal aspects that strike you? Curator: Notice the consistent curvature and lack of hard edges. The absence of rigid lines creates a biomorphic quality, inviting associations with organic forms or cellular structures. The shapes, while abstract, are not entirely divorced from nature. A calculated tension exists between pure abstraction and the suggestion of organicism. Editor: That's fascinating. I never thought about the contrast between the geometric forms and the more natural suggestions, and how that balance contributes to the work's dynamism. Curator: Indeed. Analyzing the composition, color palette and texture leads to a rich understanding of how this painting communicates. It demonstrates the potency of form in eliciting meaning, regardless of overt representation.