Galaxy 1990

Editor: So, here we have Tihamer Gyarmathy’s “Galaxy,” painted in 1990 with acrylics. It’s giving me a really interesting sensation of organized chaos – like looking at the night sky but through a slightly distorted lens. What catches your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, “organized chaos," I love that. For me, it's all about the push and pull. Do you see how those soft circles almost seem to float against that gridded background? It's like he's capturing the very essence of a galaxy, both the ordered and the beautifully unpredictable. There is a dream-like quality in it, but it makes me wonder what his intention for this artwork was. What sort of feelings come to mind? Editor: I feel a sense of calmness. The colours are soft and pastel, and the circular shapes seem gentle and repetitive. But the overall impression is also pretty complex, with lots of details, layers, and tiny gestures. I almost want to map it like a star chart. Curator: Yes! Mapping is a great way to think about this work. I feel a need to just dive in, and try to follow the pathways through the various areas and grids of this painted surface, while hoping to catch a small glimpse of an inner consciousness from within Gyarmathy. It could be described as modern with both its expressionistic abstraction as well as hints of surrealism and nature patterns within this artwork. Do you notice the circles that aren't fully painted? Editor: Absolutely. Those add a sort of transparency to the whole thing, and keeps it from feeling too flat or dense. It really contributes to the feeling that the work goes beyond a simple, geometric structure. It reminds me of what lays within geometric shapes – their potential infinite nature! Curator: Exactly! The artist doesn't allow us to sit still – instead, the picture opens a doorway. And, now thinking about it, I believe this artwork shares both my internal appreciation for reflective, spiritual moments, and the recognition that nothing in this world is fixed or concrete. It brings an overwhelming emotion that I think I needed. Editor: I never considered that! Thank you, this piece has certainly moved my artistic perceptions toward geometric structure with that extra human element within!