Untitled c. 1963

Editor: This is an untitled ink drawing by George Bunker, made around 1963. It's chaotic and feels so raw, like looking into the artist's mind as he's figuring something out. What leaps out at you when you see it? Curator: Oh, chaos is a wonderful word for it. But chaos isn't always negative, is it? I see tremendous energy here, a vibrant outpouring onto the page. The furious lines, the way they intersect and almost fight with each other, give the piece such dynamism. It feels less like a study and more like a performance, wouldn’t you agree? Do you get the feeling that the making of the art was as, or more, important than the outcome? Editor: Definitely a performance! It's so different from the polished, finished works we usually study. It is interesting to imagine the creative moment... What could Bunker have been thinking, though? Does it hint at anything specific for you? Curator: Perhaps the better question is what doesn’t it suggest? Abstract Expressionism, at its core, is about expressing the internal landscape, and here Bunker lays bare what that might mean. This period, in particular, artists weren't after perfect representations. They sought that essential vibration of the soul. I often imagine that in Bunker’s era, they thought less and trusted themselves more… don’t you? Editor: I get that sense of trust in his instincts, which comes through, absolutely. Thank you! Curator: The pleasure is all mine! Now I'm thinking... does this encourage *you* to draw? To release without worrying about mistakes?