First Revelation of Unknown Energy 1974

Editor: We’re looking at Lubo Kristek’s "First Revelation of Unknown Energy," an acrylic on canvas created in 1974. It’s a dreamlike landscape, and the colour palette creates an atmosphere of tranquility broken up by the geometric shapes that form organic shapes, such as what look like bones or caves. What are your initial impressions, seeing it through a formalist lens? Curator: My eye is drawn immediately to the juxtaposition of forms: the hard-edged geometry of the rock formation on the horizon, contrasted with the biomorphic shapes that dominate the foreground. Kristek masterfully manipulates value and hue to establish spatial relationships, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Definitely! The soft blues and yellows of the sky make the rigid figure on the left feel massive and present. Is the colour palette significant in itself, in your opinion? Curator: Absolutely. The muted tones, combined with the textural variations achieved through the acrylic paint, create a dynamic tension between the real and the unreal. Consider the way the light source emanates from that figure on the horizon – does it strike you as a natural light? How does it function within the composition? Editor: I’m not sure. The use of that almost unnatural, soft light is definitely jarring compared to the more ‘realistic’ shading of the stone figure in the foreground. Perhaps Kristek is using the colour palette and these opposing images to disrupt any sense of spatial understanding or narrative? Curator: Precisely! The lack of a clear narrative allows us to focus on the pure visual elements—the interplay of lines, shapes, and colours. Ultimately, this provokes a unique aesthetic experience for each observer. Editor: I now appreciate how the power of this piece relies on those intentional choices, and the impact it can have based purely on those visual relationships! Curator: And hopefully, you'll continue to develop these looking skills!