Theatre Kaleidoscope 2005

Curator: "Theatre Kaleidoscope," a digital work by Branko Bačanović dating from 2005, grabs you immediately with its…spirals. What are your initial impressions? Editor: Stark. I find the glowing spirals mesmerizing, almost hypnotic. The high contrast really heightens that effect; they emerge from pure darkness, one framed against an unsettlingly textured background and one ablaze with orange light. It’s as if the artist sought to depict portals of the unknown, a sensation not unheard of in theatre experiences. Curator: Yes! The spiral is a fascinating form with rich symbolic meaning. Think about the ouroboros serpent in ancient mythologies, where the tail-eating serpent symbolized cycles of life, death and rebirth. Editor: You see, that is exactly what came to my mind: an almost primal form hinting at constant renewal. Do you think Bačanović employs these spirals simply to emulate forms that emerge in nature? Or, do you read a connection here to broader discussions circulating at the time, about modernism? Curator: Good questions. On the one hand, one cannot miss a possible reference to modernism given the overall clean graphic look, particularly evident through crisp lines that speak about speed, forward propulsion, and futurism. At the same time, this may simply act as an anchor relating to something more constant than our always forward moving timelines, speaking, rather, about returning cycles, in life, love, culture, etc. Editor: True! The way the artist merges them offers something really fresh to consider. The textures in the top quadrant give me pause though. To me, it's a bold choice. I almost don't see how the eye finds space there; It adds complexity yet somehow diminishes the spiral's luminosity, even if meant to make it stand out further by contrast. What is the purpose? Curator: Right. That's exactly where he disrupts pure design and raises important questions on chaos, and noise. Consider those who are always outcasts, their voices rarely included in official conversations. What are the effects that official lines can achieve or erase when dealing with populations? What roles can or do theatrical art forms have to do in relation to such conversations? Editor: Well, considering its title is related to theater...it pushes us, beyond mere decoration, to question social themes as they mirror performance art. I agree. Now, understanding this artwork through history gives it new significance to my mind. Curator: Indeed. In its bold abstraction, “Theatre Kaleidoscope” makes one think. That is, if it stops you from falling into its vortex. Editor: A successful and multi-layered graphic artwork indeed. I hope listeners take the time to reflect upon Bačanović's intent!