Prapor 1982

Curator: "Prapor," created by Horia Bernea in 1982, is crafted with textile. Editor: My first impression is the muted palette, particularly the pervasive pink, makes the repeating geometric forms almost dissolve into each other, creating an interesting tension between order and dissolution. What are your thoughts? How would you interpret this work through its form and composition? Curator: Formally speaking, observe how the composition hinges on the interplay of concentric squares rotated to diamond orientations. The central lozenge presents a subdued pink, bisected by intersecting lines, setting the formal tone. Then you notice an irregular patterning within certain planes, disrupting what could have been an expected visual uniformity. It calls into question the nature of representation itself, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Yes, I see that disruption you mentioned! The patterned areas break the potentially rigid geometry. It creates a soft tension against the hard lines of the structure. Curator: Precisely. The overall flatness, combined with these textural contrasts, demands a careful analysis. Bernea uses a restricted palette and subtle variations in texture to generate visual interest. Do you see any specific linear strategies within this piece? Editor: The overlaid lines and the colour texture, together create a very complex image in a limited color palette. Thinking about our discussion and how that pattern breaks the structure gives the work tension I had not perceived initially. Curator: Indeed, the dialectic between structure and surface treatment serves as a potent articulation. The eye navigates between recognising patterns, the geometric shapes and embracing the work in its entirely and in parts.