Konstruktion 1931

Otto Gustav Carlsund created this work, Konstruktion, with oil paint, presenting a stark arrangement of geometric forms. Dominating the composition is a block of yellow and black stripes, a motif that echoes throughout history in heraldry, flags, and warnings, symbolizing caution or demarcation. Consider how such a pattern appears in medieval coats of arms, or even further back, in the natural world as seen in the warning colors of insects. Here, it seems Carlsund taps into a primal understanding of boundaries and danger. This motif is offset by softer shapes – a circle and a right angle rectangle- rendered in muted tones, offering a counterbalance. The arrangement speaks to the human impulse to order and understand the world through basic shapes, yet the tilted angle of the striped block introduces tension. It stirs our subconscious understanding of balance and stability, and a deep-seated need for visual harmony. The symbols presented here are echoes of forms that recur and evolve, reflecting our persistent quest for meaning.