1252438031 Bordunas Composition 

Curator: Borduas’ "1252438031 Bordunas Composition" is a powerful example of his abstract expressionist phase. The medium employed here is matter painting using oils. Editor: Immediately, I notice the incredibly dynamic use of texture. The thick impasto is very physical; you can practically feel the energy of the artist’s hand. Curator: Absolutely. Borduas's embrace of abstraction marks a fascinating shift in his focus towards the liberation of form. Abandoning representational art, he channels the subconscious, allowing forms to emerge freely from the interplay of color and gesture. The contrasting strokes of red, black, and white feel primal. Editor: This approach, this "automatism," foregrounds the act of painting. You become intensely aware of Borduas manipulating pigment and medium – pushing it, layering it – a raw materiality, it’s about his process. And even consumption of these resources to achieve certain visuals. Curator: There’s something almost spiritual about that, a sense of searching for meaning beyond the tangible world, echoing the Surrealist exploration of dreams and the subconscious. Do you see symbolic value here as well? A dialogue between light and shadow? Editor: Well, maybe… but I'm more interested in how this physicality connects to the post-war context. With industry and its new technologies. Was it even expensive at the time to acquire this type of oil pigment in post-war Canada? And what did he intend for its afterlife? I always wonder, given how prices have skyrocketed. Curator: An interesting thought to consider… Regardless, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of abstraction. A captivating image with such raw energy and bold confidence. Editor: I agree. It’s about Borduas making decisions about his resources: What will be emphasized or erased… A painter thinking carefully through process.