Curatorial notes
Editor: We’re looking at Sándor Bortnyik’s 1921 piece – simply titled ‘Bortnyik Sándor, 1921’ - an oil and watercolor painting with strong Constructivist vibes. I am immediately struck by the playful arrangement of geometric forms; they remind me of building blocks! What’s your take? Curator: Oh, I love that "building blocks" image, and it works so well. The colours are certainly playful – earthy, yes, but with jolts of sunshine yellow. It feels like Bortnyik is constructing not just a composition, but also a world…or perhaps deconstructing an older one, do you think? After the turmoil of World War One, artists were reimagining society itself, and abstraction was their language. This piece, for me, hums with the energy of a new dawn. Editor: A new dawn… so the geometric shapes aren’t just random. They have some underlying meaning? Curator: Meaning can be a tricky thing with abstract art, and maybe Bortnyik would have just scoffed at us trying to decipher it, preferring we just *felt* it, if you know what I mean. But notice how the colours don't blend; each shape is delineated. In some ways it is as if the art embodies social, or even psychological constructs... a deliberate juxtaposition of ideas rather than any single notion. How would you say the colors speak to you? Editor: They feel bold, yet grounding—optimistic, like the possibilities you mentioned. I see the "31A" on the darker side of the painting; does that bear any significance, do you know? Curator: Well, I don’t want to disappoint, but I can’t find information that points to significance... still, I like to think of it as a painterly riddle Bortnyik left for us. Perhaps a secret address, or a cryptic message? That’s what is so rewarding about art: that it speaks differently to everyone. What do you think you’ll take away from today’s viewing? Editor: I’ll remember to not only "see" the artwork, but try to hear its possibilities—its story. And you've definitely inspired me to not shy away from those riddles. Thanks!