Decisive Rose

Decisive Rose, V. Kandinsky, March 1932, oil on canvas 81 x 100cm (photo taken by author)

From 4 November 2023 to 10 March 2024, the Art Gallery of NSW held the most comprehensive exhibition of works by one of Europe’s most well-known modernist abstract artists, Vasily Kandinsky, ever seen in Australia. While it wasn’t the first time I’d seen this artist’s works in person, this exhibition featuring over 50 of them was nothing less than breathtaking - so much so that I visited the exhibition more than once. Walking through the exhibition was a journey through riotous colour, eternal motion, loud music, brilliant vitality and effervescent life. But one piece in particular caught my attention - “Decisive Rose” stunned me with its uniqueness against a backdrop of vibrant colour and noise. And it inspired the below poem.

DECISIVE ROSE

Brash brights

and bold violets.

Loud hues infused

with riots.

 

Sight and sense

invaded with violence.

Cacophonous joy

alive on canvas.

 

This joyous spectrum,

the marrow of our nature,

so vivid to our musings,

calling us to venture.

 

On it goes,

in parallels and diagonals.

This world of colour

screaming for attention.

 

But not you, you

decisive rose so splendid.

Quietly you pose

contented.

 

In that pale sea of sun,

still, is your presence,

and space is graced

by the calm of your essence.

 

What do you say to this chaos?

What wisdom do you impart?

And pondering, soon I know

your meaning…

 

Grace and poise spark

all the noise required,

to leave your mark

on the hearts you’ve desired.

© Maria Orlandi 2024

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