Cercles de Nuit 1992

Curator: Allow me to introduce Piero Dorazio's "Cercles de Nuit," an acrylic on canvas created in 1992. Editor: Wow, a swirling kaleidoscope of colors on that vibrant blue backdrop. My first thought is the deep night sky with all the celestial bodies doing the twist. Curator: A compelling response. Dorazio's use of geometric abstraction and colour is designed to create precisely this sensation—an almost hypnotic visual field. The overlapping and juxtaposed circular patterns play with depth and dimensionality. We see a pure optical experience. Editor: Optical alright, my eyes are darting everywhere! It’s like he's taken something infinitely complex, broken it down to these simple lines and yet it doesn't feel simple at all. The primary colours have such joyful movement, what was Dorazio trying to explore here? Curator: In many ways he's interrogating how colours interact, the sensation produced through their harmonious contrast. Through applying formal structure and repeated motif, Dorazio examines optical physics. Notice how each ring in the spiral varies slightly, creating depth through color relations and varying widths. Editor: They’re alive! Honestly, that's what comes to mind. The rhythmic nature of these circles gives a sense of vibrancy. Is the "Night Circles" perhaps a symbolic representation of interconnectedness in our universe? Curator: I consider your intuition astute in light of the historical context. Though this composition is from 1992, Dorazio had been a leader of abstraction for nearly four decades, seeking ways to synthesize rational structure with sensorial awareness. The artist challenges perception using semiotics and structuralism to achieve visual dynamics. Editor: You have definitely offered a view, but standing here now in front of Dorazio’s painting I feel…alive with movement! What a wild dance. Curator: Indeed. Hopefully, our considerations provided enriching views on visual composition. Editor: Yes, a wonderful journey into vibrant colour, complex design, and unbounded feelings. Thanks.