Ecritures Colombées n°4 1985

Curator: This is Jacques Busse’s "Ecritures Colombées n°4" from 1985, a mixed-media painting exhibiting geometric abstraction. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by its dual nature, almost a conversation between order and chaos, or perhaps differing cultural scripts meeting on a single plane. There is something almost architectural about this painting. Curator: I agree; the construction here is paramount. The piece is literally built from these gridded segments. Busse carefully assembles the work, creating this matrix onto which he applies paint and other materials, layering textures. One half is a study in grayscale—an almost concrete surface. The other a softer, whiter ground. Editor: Considering the title, “Colombées Writings,” do you think the patterns within each block might allude to codified language, perhaps even a deconstruction of colonialism's impact on communication and cultural expression? It's as if we're seeing the remnants of written communication, disrupted and reconfigured. Curator: Certainly. And from a purely material standpoint, the way Busse utilizes mixed media highlights a tactile engagement. Notice the varying sheens and the layering effects. The interplay is itself a language—of surfaces, depths, and contrasts that go beyond representation. Editor: Absolutely, the materiality becomes part of the narrative. Looking at how Busse contrasts the geometric patterns, especially within that historical context, prompts a reflection on how societal structures impose rigid forms upon fluid human experiences. It reminds us that even abstraction carries inherent social commentary. Curator: Precisely. This piece encourages a slow, considered engagement. By analyzing the way each section contributes to the overall visual dialogue, we begin to recognize Busse’s subtle mastery of technique. We see that through close looking at the artistic process and through a more contextual understanding of Busse's inspirations. Editor: "Ecritures Colombées n°4" invites us to decipher a story etched in paint and pattern. A conversation between past and present, inviting questions around language, identity, and history itself. Curator: A testament to art's ability to challenge, to question, and, above all, to engage in dialogues across materials, time, and cultures.