Interior 1998

Albert Oehlen's painting presents an interior where recognizable forms dissolve into abstraction. The interplay of light and shadow evokes a dreamlike atmosphere, reminiscent of subconscious realms. Notice the skeletal, geometric structures. They could be modern interpretations of classical motifs – perhaps architectural ruins or distorted human figures. These forms appear and reappear throughout art history, signaling decay and reconstruction. Consider the circle, a recurring symbol of wholeness, unity, and the divine. Here, it seems to float, detached, questioning its traditional significance. This fragmentation embodies the anxieties of modernity, where old certainties are broken down. Oehlen engages our collective memory. He prompts us to reconsider inherited symbols. They are not static, but ever-evolving, reflecting our changing world and our innermost fears and hopes.