Estudo Raionista 1967

Curator: We are looking at Manuel Cargaleiro's "Estudo Raionista," created in 1967. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: The rawness of it strikes me—almost unfinished. The graphite and blue ink, so immediate on the page. There's a certain vulnerability in the visible marks of its making. Curator: Indeed. The intersecting lines and planes demonstrate a fascinating understanding of spatial relations. Consider how Cargaleiro uses layering to construct depth on an otherwise flat surface. Editor: Yes, and it appears the tools were used in a particular way, with a possible utilization of stencils; seeing the trace of production so evidently allows a close engagement with Cargaleiro’s studio practice. Do you think that's related to constructivism? Curator: Precisely! The work aligns with Constructivist principles; emphasizing geometric abstraction to evoke dynamism and structure, even with such basic media. Editor: It's curious, though, to note the potential subversion. Constructivism frequently invokes sharp edges; these blurred lines introduce a kind of soft rebellion. They expose a tactile and almost intimate understanding of the materials at hand. Curator: It may be that these “blurred lines”, as you so aptly call them, are the product of careful material selection. The textured paper influences the mark-making capabilities of both the graphite and blue ink, offering a nuanced commentary on traditional geometries. Editor: Thinking about the era, post-war… do you get the impression this abstraction communicates perhaps ideas about fractured or emerging realities through deconstructed formalism? Curator: Without a doubt. In its geometric structure, we might see a symbol of modernist reconstruction, but one imbued with the understanding of the limitations present within its processes. Editor: So, to reiterate—this is a fascinating peek into how the manual and material aspects intertwine to affect the essence and narrative that it brings to life. Curator: Indeed, it showcases an artist deeply invested in a critical exploration of abstraction through its fundamental components.