E-35 Dekolta 

Editor: Today we’re looking at "E-35 Dekolta" by Tony DeLap, a print featuring concentric hexagonal shapes. It almost feels like staring down a never-ending tunnel. What stands out to you most about its visual elements? Curator: I’m drawn to the interplay between the positive and negative space. The unwavering precision of the lines, contrasted against the solid purple ground, creates a palpable tension. Note how the hard-edged geometric abstraction focuses our eye relentlessly inward. The overall effect disorients, yet fascinates, doesn't it? Editor: Yes, definitely! I keep getting a sense of depth where there isn’t any. It's intriguing how just a few lines can create such an illusion. Curator: Exactly. DeLap masterfully employs line and color to explore the very nature of perception. The receding hexagon generates a visual vibration, defying the static nature of the print. The success lies entirely in the arrangement of form, color, and line, irrespective of any external narrative. Editor: I see what you mean. It exists purely as a visual experience, an exploration of space through shape. But without a background or narrative, can the image maintain the audience interest? Curator: Consider it an investigation of optical phenomena. Does the piece command attention due to something other than skill? Instead it prompts consideration of how art can exist independently. Are we not interested by our response to an abstract stimulus that leads our focus down a mysterious tunnel with starkly contrasting colors? Editor: That makes sense. So, looking at the piece as a play on form, line, and the viewer's perception helps appreciate the artistic experience it delivers. Curator: Precisely. The artist intentionally offers very little outside this technical and formal play, demanding focus on how a minimum of visual resources can yield dynamic experience. I appreciate this focus!