I Still Think About Who I Was Last Summer 

Editor: Tania Rivilis' oil painting, "I Still Think About Who I Was Last Summer," immediately strikes me with its poignant mood. The impasto style and the pensive gaze really pull you in. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a study in identity and the echoes of self. The title alone invites introspection. Consider the hat, the bright yellow contrasting sharply with the somewhat melancholic expression. Hats, historically, are potent symbols, signifying status, role, or even concealment. What could the hat be doing here, symbolically? Editor: Maybe shielding the past self, or embodying a specific summer persona? Curator: Precisely! The summer hat veiling the 'who I was'. The vivid colours, almost clashing, could represent fragmented memories, emotions fighting for dominance. Notice the red and yellow repeated throughout - these aren’t accidental choices. How might colour psychology play a role here? Editor: Red for passion or anger perhaps? Yellow for joy, but maybe faded, like an old photograph? The figure's hand near their face…is that contemplation, worry? Curator: The hand gesture anchors the narrative in present-day reflection. A tangible link. We're not just looking at a face; we're witnessing a dialogue between past and present selves. Editor: That makes it more relatable; the painting captures a very human moment. Curator: Indeed. It's a journey inwards. Rivilis invites us to consider our own evolving identities, the ‘selves’ we've left behind, lingering like half-forgotten dreams. Editor: I'll definitely be thinking about how summer memories can shape who we become! It seems the emotional symbolism is more accessible now, thanks to your insight.