Complexity 1992 - 1994

Curator: Dorothea Rockburne's "Complexity" presents us with an intriguing interplay of geometric forms. Editor: My first impression is a sense of controlled chaos—lines and circles vying for space on a stark field. Curator: Rockburne, a figure who emerged from the postwar American art scene, often used mathematical concepts to engage with the socio-political landscape. This work highlights her engagement with systems of knowledge. Editor: Yet, these hard edges suggest an engagement with semiotics—a visual language reduced to its most essential components, line and plane. Curator: Precisely, and consider the artist’s use of the sheet—its dimensions serving as a framework for challenging conventional notions of order and structure in a rapidly shifting cultural era. Editor: Ultimately, it is the dialogue between the planned and the random that captivates, creating a tension that resonates long after the initial viewing. Curator: Indeed, it’s a testament to how formalism can offer complex social commentary.