Microcosm 1957 - 1959

Curator: Looking at John Wells' painting, titled "Microcosm," I'm immediately struck by the texture. It feels almost geological, like looking at layers of sediment. Editor: The layering is interesting, isn’t it? It makes me think of palimpsests, where old meanings are erased, and new ones written over, but traces of the past still shimmer through. What symbolic elements jump out at you? Curator: Well, the title itself "Microcosm" suggests a world-within-a-world, everything is interconnected. Do you see how the forms are both abstract and suggest land, sea, and sky? It feels very elemental. Editor: And it seems that Wells has worked and reworked the surface. The visible marks and subtle changes in tone speak to a really involved artistic process, constantly building and excavating. Curator: Perhaps that process reflects the idea of a microcosm, constantly evolving and revealing itself through time. It reflects the artist, nature, and the human condition. Editor: It makes you wonder about the tools and the pigments used—were they locally sourced? How did those choices contribute to the final impression? Curator: It's intriguing how a small artwork can hold so much. Editor: It certainly gives you a lot to think about.