What are We the Sum of 1980

Branko Bačanović created "What are We the Sum of" using a limited palette of pink and black. This pared-down approach really lets you focus on the image itself, it highlights the forms and textures, but also turns our attention to what might be missing. The contrast between the bright pink and dark black is intense, like a spotlight shining on worn suitcases and a distant city skyline. There’s a rough, almost grainy texture throughout the image that makes me think about old photographs, or maybe even screen printing. Look closely at the locks and clasps on the suitcases - each one is rendered with sharp detail, and is set against the faded and almost ghostly image of the city beyond. This piece reminds me a little of Andy Warhol’s pop art prints, with their bold colors and graphic style. But where Warhol celebrated consumer culture, Bačanović seems to be exploring themes of memory, history, and what it means to carry the weight of the past with you.