The Professor of Lost Things 2020

Joshua Flint painted ‘The Professor of Lost Things’ in the twenty-first century. In it, a figure delicately holds what looks like a giant, iridescent bubble. He is the "Professor" of the title and seems immersed in a liminal, blue-toned landscape, laden with symbolism. Flint has said, "My work explores the intersection of memory, mythology, and identity." This piece beautifully captures that sentiment, particularly in the way that the professor's identity appears to be intertwined with the lost things he studies. Are the items he carries on his back found objects, or metaphors for memories and experiences? The painting evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing, but it also subtly challenges conventional representations of masculinity. The professor is an intellectual, but also someone deeply in tune with the natural world. Ultimately, Flint asks us to reflect on the value of what society deems "lost" and on how these forgotten fragments shape who we are.