Venus and Mars 1977

Editor: This is A. R. Penck's "Venus and Mars," painted with oil on canvas. It's quite large, and there's an immediate rawness to the composition and color. How do you interpret this work? Curator: For me, it’s like overhearing a fascinating, slightly drunken conversation between history and mythology. The figures, almost glyph-like, represent primal forces clashing and colluding. It’s not about romantic love or war, but the messy, vital dance between them. Editor: Messy, vital… I like that. It definitely feels unfinished in a way, but energetic. Curator: Right? It's a controlled chaos, a glimpse into Penck's world. Do you think it captures the tension, the push and pull, between these archetypes? Editor: I do now! The looseness really helps convey that.