Aghast

Scott Fraser, born in 1957, created this still life, using oil paints to conjure a scene of stark objects and contrasting textures. Note how these aren’t traditional art materials in themselves, but industrially produced items of everyday life, each laden with cultural meaning. The hard edges of the gasoline can, made from stamped metal with boldly printed graphics, stand in sharp contrast to the soft glow of the candlelight and the delicate portrait of a woman. Each object has been meticulously rendered, with attention to the way light reflects off its surface, revealing the artist’s command of technique. But consider how the candle might allude to Dutch Golden Age painting, and the gasoline can to 20th century advertising. This raises questions about the work involved in not just the painting itself, but also the historical contexts in which these objects exist. By bringing these disparate elements together, Fraser challenges our conventional understanding of art, prompting us to consider the relationship between consumerism, memory, and representation. The material qualities of each element, as well as the labor invested in their production and portrayal, contribute to the artwork's layered narrative.