Flowering #2 1963

Friedel Dzubas created "Flowering #2" using acrylic on canvas. The choice of acrylic is important here; it’s a relatively modern material, associated with industrial production and consumer culture of the mid-20th century. Unlike traditional oil paints, acrylics dry quickly and allow for flat, uniform surfaces. Dzubas exploits this quality to create bold, simple shapes of color. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the acrylic paint is applied in thin layers, almost like a dye. This technique emphasizes the flatness of the canvas, drawing attention to the material support of the painting. The large, simplified forms also speak to the techniques of mass production, where designs are streamlined for efficient output. Dzubas’s interest was not in creating illusionistic depth, but rather in exploring the physical properties of the paint itself. This approach challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and industrial design, inviting us to consider the social and cultural implications of the materials artists choose.