Untitled 1998

Curator: What first strikes me is this feeling of a muted storm – like observing wind patterns on a darkened lake. Editor: You know, that’s a beautiful analogy. I’m here to talk to you today about this untitled artwork made in 1998 by Steven Steinman. Predominantly using graphite and charcoal, he crafts a stunning drawing centered around abstract and organic forms. What do you feel when looking at it through the lens of, say, the history of minimalist art? Curator: History… hmm. Well, instantly the "organic" tag screams against minimalism, doesn't it? This has such a deeply personal feel to it. It is abstract, yes, but in the way memory becomes abstract, layered and somewhat dreamlike. Those charcoal lines seem less deliberate geometry, and more like subconscious urges laid bare. Editor: Interesting. To me, these looping lines suggest patterns of migration, reflecting the displacement experienced by marginalized communities and the cyclical nature of oppression. The overlapping shapes hint at the interconnectedness of individual struggles within larger systemic injustices. Curator: Oh wow, I love that – like an eco-system seen from above? Each small loop feeding into a greater whole? That's wonderful. Although I'm still struck by how ephemeral and quiet the work feels. Does that jive with this notion of power, injustice and displacement? Editor: Absolutely. The subtlety amplifies the insidious nature of these societal structures. Often, systems of oppression function through quiet, persistent forces that gradually erode freedom and autonomy. So, rather than seeing it as just pretty marks, what if these looping patterns are like bureaucratic red tape? Curator: Haha. Yes. Totally! It makes you consider: can something seemingly innocuous be… violent? Or a better question: what makes something violent? Gosh, thank you. I have new eyes for this piece now. Editor: Well, there you have it. Each stroke a potential story of quiet resistance. Curator: Absolutely. Art has the power to subtly change how we see and experience reality. And Steinman certainly has unlocked a new perception of it today! Editor: Precisely! Thank you, and that’s all from us today.