Untitled 2017

Editor: Here we have an untitled painting by Lucy Ivanova, created in 2017, using acrylic paint. I'm struck by the energy; it feels like a landscape on the verge of some dramatic shift. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This feels like a landscape, but one that confronts the legacies of Abstract Expressionism with contemporary awareness. We need to ask, who gets to express themselves so freely on such a grand scale, and what are the historical implications? Think about the cultural and gendered narrative that often privileges male artists in this movement. Does Ivanova, as a contemporary female artist, engage with or subvert that legacy? Editor: So you're suggesting it's not just an abstract landscape, but maybe a statement about who gets to paint landscapes, or abstractly express themselves, in the first place? Curator: Exactly! Consider the sheer materiality. The layering of acrylic evokes process and embodies meaning. The green seems to suffocate the lower registers of reds. It speaks of the violence and speed with which modern systems transform land and labor. How does Ivanova critique environmental exploitation while navigating painting traditions? It makes one think of Land Art from a decolonialized perspective. Editor: I see what you mean. I hadn't considered it as a conversation about those power dynamics, but situating the piece in that context really opens it up. Curator: Right. How can abstraction reflect on historical exclusions or ecological devastation? The aggressive brushstrokes here almost feel like a rebellion against conventional artistic expression, as a response to ongoing injustices. It challenges viewers to consider the socio-political underpinnings of something as seemingly neutral as an abstract artwork. Editor: I never thought an abstract piece could have so much to say about power and politics! It's really broadened my understanding. Curator: Art provides a unique space for such exploration. Seeing art through this critical lens invites dialogues about previously overlooked dimensions of society and identity.