La Grande Marche 1987

Curator: "La Grande Marche," or "The Great Walk," painted by Paul Guiragossian in 1987. This piece uses acrylic on canvas. What are your first impressions? Editor: It's a flurry of color and gestural lines. Immediately, I see a multitude of figures, though abstracted. There is this wonderful sense of verticality, like elongated forms reaching upwards. It creates a feeling of movement despite their seeming stillness. Curator: It's fascinating how Guiragossian repeatedly returned to the theme of the "family" or group in his art. Remember that this was made during a period of tremendous displacement and upheaval in Lebanon. Editor: And look at how he simplifies form into planes and color blocks; it has a touch of Fauvism while hinting at Expressionism in the rawness. The use of white space in contrast to the vibrant hues creates such a bold statement. It draws one in and almost overwhelms you with its emotion. Curator: His art served as a form of cultural commentary and, in a way, humanitarian action. In the '80s, amidst political and social fragmentation, family assumed symbolic value, promising unity. Guiragossian's paintings gave faces to those marginalized. The faceless people could perhaps suggest any or every person. Editor: Interesting point. I notice, despite their ambiguous form, that no two are the same. Each 'figure' has unique details with color and the stroke of the acrylic; so individuality persists amidst a larger crowd or unit. And while a feeling of upward movement presides, some colors toward the bottom weigh the image and tether its lightness. Curator: Indeed. The "march" invokes collective action but might also be about the struggle to find your place, your own expression, amidst broader social forces. Guiragossian had a lot of influence in the Arab art world. It is interesting to reflect how social instability creates unique movements in art. Editor: Definitely; observing these forms—color, texture, strokes, balance—gives an insight to our feelings concerning unity, movement, individuality. Curator: I appreciate how you note its structure. It's the synthesis of art and history that lets us experience something unique in both domains. Editor: A perfect intersection.