Introduction
Control, modern life revolves around control.
Whether legal, moral, or the self-control we exercise over ourselves.
Somehow, we are always obliged to do what we must, not what we feel. To conform to rules, to stay on track, and to contain our impulses.
This is what society demands of us, to conform and be in control.
But what is the result of this denial of our primary emotions?
Are we or others happier when we control ourselves?
For whom or what do we balance the subconscious through consciousness?
In the piece “Mind Settings” by Stanca Dumitrescu, the fine line between reason and subconscious is explored, with the intention of evoking to the surface human needs, tendencies, and desires to manifest without limits, to act without hesitation.
The author, as we will discover in the analysis, masterfully accomplishes this research and connection between the two entities that animate humans.
From the chosen chromatics to the techniques used, the entire piece is an apparently chaotic dance of emotions controlled by reason.
From the initial placement of colors, we feel the agitation of the emotional amalgam that is daily restricted by humans to maintain their face integrated into society.
The variety of techniques used invites the viewer to take part in the creation process and feel the author’s emotions through imaginative involvement. Through mental recreation of the artist’s procedure, the spectator can deeply feel the emotions that created this work.
In this way, any viewer can let themselves be controlled by emotions, but without truly losing their self-control.
Interpretation of Symbols
Symbols:
- The controlled background suggests rational, orderly consciousness, but also limited by the monotony of correct choices, suggested by the pastel colors that appear washed out and insipid. The background is the foundation that supports and frames the rest of the composition.
- The mixture of vivid colors and gestural techniques, such as splashing and scraping, represents the subconscious trying to assert its presence. This chaotic mixture symbolizes instinctual impulses and uncontrolled emotions that animate lives.
- The scrapings show the doubts and self-criticism of reason towards the subconscious. As the conscious mind struggles to tame impulsive actions, which it constantly tries to filter as they emerge.
- The cream lines that seem to cut through the gestural applications suggest the denial of subconscious impulses, it’s the way reason regains control over spontaneous emotions.
- Pure and pastel chromatics: Pure colors represent the vivid emotions of the subconscious, being the focal points of the piece, while pastels represent the self-control of reason, over which instinctive feelings try to manifest, despite the control exercised by consciousness.
- Black represents the consequences of thoughtless actions. It is a subtle warning of the chaos born from lack of emotional control.
- Variety of applications: cuts, throws, gentle drips, large drops, fine splashes, broad brushstrokes; All these suggest emotional diversity and different human caprices. Each color seems to have its own application methods, borrowing elements from other colors but not copying the same manifestation.
- Electric Blue and Dragée Pink, applied in reduced quantity in the upper-center-right part, suggest hesitation and reconsideration of reason to fulfill subconscious desires. It is the main symbol of consciousness’s triumph against instinctual urges.
- Overall, the entire piece is a symbol of neural circuits that interconnect and have different firing intensities.
Evoked Feelings
The painting conveys a tense balance between discipline and impulsivity, control and release. The observer is confronted with a mixture of order and chaos, and this contrast evokes feelings of instinctual energy, curiosity, discipline, and creative freedom.
Ideal Use
This work would be ideal for both animated and quiet spaces.
It fits in a personal office or company office, in a modern living room, or an entryway to introduce a note of visual dynamism.
In a corporate or business context, the painting could decorate a conference room or a waiting room, stimulating thinking and free discussions.
Color Analysis
Total Colors: Pine Green, Coot, Ferrari Red, Ebony, Honey, Banana, Cream, Champagne, Mandarin, Electric Blue, Periwinkle, Linen Gray, Passe-Velours, Eggshell, Dragée Pink
Color Significance:
- Green: symbolizes balance and renewal, but in this composition, applied dynamically, it evokes movement and constant change.
- Red: reflects the impulsivity and energy of the subconscious, being a dominant color that evokes passion and danger.
- Yellow: brings a note of optimism and clarity, but in the chaotic context, can signify confusion or a passing impulse of reason.
- Black: creates a strong contrast, marking the boundaries between rational and subconscious, having also a warning role.
Artistic Movement
The work falls under Abstract Expressionism, an artistic style that emphasizes the expression of emotions and the subconscious through strong colors and gestures.
Having Jackson Pollock as the main inspiration, the work combines dripping and gesturalism techniques to render the tension between order and chaos.
In places, elements of automatism can be observed, which connect to Freud’s theories about the subconscious.
Working Style
- Technique: Dripping, Gestural, Scraping
- Materials: Oil and Acrylic on Canvas
Stanca Dumitrescu uses a combination of techniques such as dripping, gesturalism, and scraping to create rich textures and convey depth in the work. The chosen materials, acrylic and oil, allow color layering and the creation of a play of light and shadow that accentuates the composition’s dynamism.
Composition
Academic Classification: Abstract Art
- Subjects: The conflict between reason and the subconscious is evident from the arrangement of colors and techniques used.
- Arrangement of elements: Though seemingly chaotic at first glance, there is a balance between areas of intensity and quietness.
- Composition balance: Asymmetric, but visually coherent, due to repetition and rhythm of lines and colors.
- Proportion and Scale: Elements are uniformly distributed across the entire surface, creating a sensation of movement.
- Focal point: There is no clear central point, and the viewer is encouraged to explore the entire painting due to created curiosity.
- Line and Form: Curved and fluid lines create the sensation of constant movement, and irregular forms evoke subconscious chaos.
- Space and Depth: Multiple-layer application techniques create an illusion of depth, even though the work is two-dimensional.
- Rhythm and Landmarks: The repetition of forms and colors creates an energetic visual rhythm, and chaos dissipates the longer the piece is viewed.
Associations and Inspirations
The work is deeply influenced by Jackson Pollock and his “drip painting” technique, which revolutionized abstract expressionism.
Additionally, a Freudian influence can be observed in the subconscious theme, similar to works that explore the psyche, such as those by Willem de Kooning.
Conclusion
Finally, the mastery with which the artwork “Mind Settings” was created by artist Stanca Dumitrescu, exploring the boundary between reason and subconscious, evokes dual feelings of impulsivity and emotional self-control that every person in society must learn to balance to have a life that is both safe and animated by intense experiences.
Because the painting is a symbol that invites contemplation, it creates an atmosphere of emotional agitation and can encourage deep conversations, especially if placed in an area exposed to curious eyes, such as a living room, office, or waiting room.
The future owner of this piece will become a Cultural Patron who supports and promotes local values. It is a title held by few people, but one that is highly appreciated in society.
This piece complements any refined space in which considerable investment has been made, being complementary to modern luxurious decors, which often impress through simplicity and minimalism but do not stimulate the senses.
In most decorations, walls remain the most neglected, despite being focal points that can elevate a room and impress any guest through a carefully chosen piece.
And this happens because the selected painting represents the owner and honors them in front of others.
Because paintings are among the few decorations that highlight the deep thoughts and emotions that an owner has and which, normally, must be made known through long conversations.
A well-chosen painting can do this in a few minutes.
And it can continue this task for a lifetime, even more so, when we remember that this precious good is passed on to descendants.
And with time, the value of such an object inevitably increases.
For it is a unique and inimitable piece that is in the possession of only one person, its rightful owner.
Therefore, if you feel that the work “Mind Settings” is suitable for you or that it conveys to you and others the feelings with which you identify, do not hesitate to call us to reserve it.
