Gevouwen vorm 1986

Curator: Let’s take a closer look at Maria van Elk's "Gevouwen Vorm" from 1986, a print which immediately strikes me with its simple power. Editor: My first thought? Quiet tension. That teal triangle dominating the composition… it's almost aggressively simple, yet strangely calming. Like a minimalist shout. Curator: Precisely! The "folded form," hinted at in the title, directs our attention to the means of its making, the physical acts of production involved. I'd argue the materials used in this hard-edge-style print serve as crucial communicative tools. The artist encourages you to ponder on this relationship to create space and dimension in the flat work. Editor: I like that 'minimalist shout' though! The texture of the paper… I'm obsessed! You can practically feel the fibers. That little tear in the corner—is that deliberate? Is that like Van Elk acknowledging imperfection? Or is it just…a tear? Maybe the question itself matters more than any actual intention. I’d be curious to know what that paper costs or if it came from her kitchen like old Picasso paper! Curator: I find such queries essential in the discussion about material culture! When evaluating minimalist and constructivist practices in her geometric art, it prompts investigation of materiality as both form and content, highlighting how even seemingly simple pieces can raise multifaceted queries. How far the paper comes can play a huge role on the final construction and in evaluating whether or not a monochrome triangle transcends its initial presentation! Editor: Okay, true. It’s definitely not "just a triangle." It's a gateway to broader things; labor, material histories, a visual puzzle with its monochromatic geometric play and so forth! All compressed into one arresting, flat thing. Like art origami almost. Curator: I'd say reflecting on her manipulation of space is vital when contemplating this quiet print, as this print serves as an exercise of what defines minimalist or constructivist styles from Van Elk’s own signature touch. Editor: Well, whatever it is, I’m officially mesmerized. Never thought a triangle could be so complicated. Curator: Indeed. It is the deceptive ease with which simple visual language urges complex contemplation, where process intersects material and ideas.