Wavy Lines with Black Border 1997

Curator: Standing before us is "Wavy Lines with Black Border" a graphic artwork created by Sol LeWitt in 1997. It's a quintessential example of his exploration of line and form within the realm of conceptual art. Editor: Whoa, first impression? This feels surprisingly joyful for something so…calculated. Like, each color is vibing on its own trip but somehow it all just grooves together. Does that black border serve as some kind of grounding mechanism for this riot of colour? Curator: It’s interesting that you call it joyful! Considering LeWitt’s grounding in conceptualism, which often prioritizes the idea behind the art over its aesthetic execution, one might not immediately associate such exuberance with his work. The colors themselves—red, yellow, blue—are archetypal, almost childlike. The border sets this system in place to allow for almost childish chaos within its perimeter. Editor: Archetypal, childlike—totally. Makes me think of, like, early computer graphics or even those rainbow spaghetti crafts we did in grade school. There's something about the simplicity and directness that's really refreshing, you know? But it definitely feels strategic. It’s like a deliberate un-doing, which gives the work that grounding influence while allowing it to breathe on its own. Curator: I appreciate the tension you've noticed. LeWitt embraced rule-based systems. These 'rules' that artists like LeWitt lay down function almost as modern iconographies. And so, once LeWitt established the concept, he would then leave the actual execution to others to carry it out. Editor: Oh, wow, so he was kind of like a composer writing a score for others to play? I feel that. There’s definitely a feeling of something orchestrated rather than spontaneous combustion. And like all rules that were meant to be broken, I can find a connection between how rigid this form is yet expressive its composition reads. Curator: Precisely. It raises a deeper question: Can predetermined systems generate unexpected beauty or even emotional resonance? He's probing what happens when you impose strict order onto something inherently fluid. The black frame, you see, reinforces this notion; containment leading to artistic freedom. Editor: I think it's beautiful. This kind of makes me want to establish systems of constraints so I can finally create. Okay. Consider me, someone forever impacted by a work that is, essentially, waving at me. Curator: A wonderful thought; one can easily become lost amongst waves if it is not properly controlled. And from an iconographer's standpoint, a geometric pattern may hold keys to understanding the human condition!