Composition (with Rectangles) 1981

Editor: This is Hryhorii Havrylenko's "Composition (with Rectangles)," made with acrylic paint in 1981. The repetition of rectangles makes me think about architecture, like looking up at the grid of windows on a building. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What strikes me immediately is the formal interplay of the geometric forms and color. Note how the slight irregularities in the rectangles and their arrangement prevent pure geometric rigidity. Consider the relationships between the colors; the way the muted purples and greens interact with the yellow creates visual tension. Editor: It feels very considered, but also slightly off-kilter. Curator: Precisely! This tension between order and slight disorder is crucial. The work engages with the traditions of abstract painting, especially abstract expressionism, but on its own terms. Do you see how the apparent simplicity actually masks a very complex structure? Editor: I see that now! It's like the artist is creating a visual language, a syntax of shapes and colours. I guess that’s why it reminds me of buildings so much. I see the formal elements almost becoming their own subject matter, not pointing to anything else. Curator: Precisely! It's about the intrinsic visual relationships; form, color, and composition. The artist has created a system here and explored its possibilities. This intense relationship between a simple idea and the exploration that arises after creating it. Editor: That's such a helpful way to think about abstract art. I’ll remember to consider what structures and elements are at play in the image, not just looking for hidden meanings.