Abstract Composition 11 

Curator: Looking at "Abstract Composition 11" by Aurel Cojan, I’m immediately struck by the dynamism of the composition. It seems to explode with raw energy. Editor: It's definitely active. My first impression is of controlled chaos—almost like an archaeological dig site with layers upon layers being unearthed. Acrylics allow such quick layering. I wonder what process Cojan employed here? Curator: Possibly a rapid, gestural approach typical of Abstract Expressionism. See the lines? They carve and define space, hinting at some hidden order beneath the apparent randomness. The canvas itself, that stark white, functions as the ground zero, the arena where all this unfolds. Editor: The materiality fascinates me. The white ground seems almost distressed, revealing the tooth of the canvas, its literal woven structure. It makes me think about the availability and preparation of this surface. What did canvas production and paint manufacture look like in the artist's milieu? Curator: I find that question interesting in context with how such an industrial thing (the white ground) gives birth to the subjective markings made in contrasting paints like yellows, blues, and blacks. What about that motif in the upper left corner—resembles a distorted skull to me. Do you see any further symbology? Editor: Potentially, but the beauty here is arguably that it resists fixed meaning. This image is pure form; what Cojan sought was to unleash feeling directly via raw art materials rather than illustrative iconography. The labor and physical struggle in applying the paints is so visible. You can practically feel Cojan’s physical commitment to these brushstrokes and drips. Curator: I agree it defies easy categorization. But let’s acknowledge that we bring our cultural and personal perspectives into this. Perhaps Cojan's mark making is a way to challenge rationalized perception through art production. Editor: Definitely, these layered lines do more than create forms; they disrupt preconceived notions of depth and order on what is materially just a flat plane. I am still left pondering how social forces made these materials available and impacted Cojan's practice. Curator: I leave the composition struck at how Cojan made something seemingly raw convey refined thought about shape, labor, and material all the same. Editor: The magic comes precisely in the artist's choice of materiality. The acrylic allows it to almost float while speaking to the real. A really satisfying work!