Oddity 2017

Curator: Right, let’s dive into Jason Limon’s "Oddity" from 2017. What strikes you first about this curious piece? Editor: Honestly? That it’s strangely joyful but also… macabre? It's like a birthday party hosted by someone who forgot to buy cake but raided a Halloween store instead. There’s a sweetness in those wide, hopeful eyes, but then BAM – skulls dangling everywhere. Curator: Limon’s got a knack for juxtaposing the cute and the unsettling, hasn't he? It is characteristic of pop-surrealism to begin with, playing with familiar imagery while disrupting our expectations. Consider the figure itself. It seems contained in some sort of ornate vessel, almost like a character in a fantastical religious procession. Editor: Absolutely! It’s this sort of ritualistic vibe meets…sci-fi. Those big black eyes and geometric patterns recall extraterrestrial beings from classic movies, yet the treatment of the surface feels aged and folkloric. And then that skeleton popping out of the top, wearing a party hat! Curator: Right? A very interesting take on Memento Mori themes. He's essentially reframing existential anxieties into something almost celebratory, packaged in acrylic paint. Limon is clearly interested in how we publicly deal with those darker, inevitable parts of existence. Editor: It's fascinating how Limon merges these contrasting themes and stylistic influences into a distinctive vision. And, despite the darkness, there is a distinct humour and quirkiness. What do you think this work conveys to contemporary viewers about, let's say, current artistic conventions? Curator: To me it says: take it all with a wink. Life, death, seriousness, absurdity. Perhaps his brand of surrealism becomes, through this “Oddity,” a commentary on how society can sanitize or commodify even difficult topics. It asks us: what if facing our fears and mortality were simply another festivity to navigate? Editor: Precisely. Limon lets the oddities dance out of the shadows, making space for acceptance and reflection with a mischievous smirk. An artwork that is worth returning to over time to explore its depth and playfulness.