Lagoon 2018

Joshua Flint created this painting, titled 'Lagoon', using oil on canvas. It evokes a dreamlike scene that, through its formal composition, might comment on the ways contemporary society is structured. The scene contains a woman in a boat, reminiscent of a gondola, perhaps alluding to Venice and its established place within art history. The lagoon setting and the figures suggest leisure and privilege, but the overall mood is unsettling, achieved through the artist's chosen brushstrokes and muted tones. There is tension between the beauty of the scene and a sense of unease, which is reinforced by the faceless figures and the darkness that surrounds them. To fully understand Flint’s work, we need to explore the social conditions that shape artistic production today. Researching contemporary art institutions, movements, and criticism will provide a deeper understanding of its place within our culture. Ultimately, it’s through this kind of research that we can discover its social meaning.