Serie Micra 2016

Curator: This is "Serie Micra," a mixed-media piece crafted with acrylic paint in 2016 by Requena Nozal. What’s your first impression? Editor: Well, immediately the color combination of red and green creates a striking visual tension. The organic pattern overlaid on that solid field almost vibrates. Curator: Precisely. It's a compelling example of pattern and decoration, evoking, perhaps, natural forms—ivy or some sort of creeper—rendered in an abstract and decidedly contemporary style. There’s a rhythm here. Editor: I see a dialogue between chaos and control. The network of lines, while seemingly random, forms an intricate pattern upon closer examination. What do you think that tension might suggest about the culture in which it was created? Curator: One might argue that Nozal is exploring our perception of order within the apparent disorder of contemporary society, a very common socio-political preoccupation of the era. The medium—mixed media incorporating acrylic—facilitates both the layering and texture that enhance this effect. Editor: And considering this artist operates within a post-digital world, it raises interesting questions about how the handmade intersects with machine-generated imagery in our cultural discourse. Are we seeking tactility and uniqueness in reaction to the increasingly digital landscape? Curator: An intriguing point. Certainly, this could be viewed as a counter-narrative to the often cold and sterile aesthetics of digital art, with its own distinct lineage related to, yet evolved from, the earlier Pattern and Decoration movement. This is a good moment to remember how cultural and political tensions between technology and the art world continue to create a rich artistic landscape. Editor: The visual dynamic really allows us to consider larger historical narratives. Thinking about the accessibility of abstraction, versus figurative approaches in different time periods… I wonder if Nozal sees the social relevance of their artistic choices here. Curator: The piece truly encapsulates a dialogue, both visually and conceptually. The way it balances the artificial with the organic encourages us to think critically. Editor: Absolutely. It has given me much to consider regarding color theory, as well as our current need for connection with natural systems.