James 2021

Curator: Alright, let’s talk about "James" by Monica Ikegwu, painted in 2021 using acrylics. What's your initial take? Editor: It strikes me as incredibly poised, almost like a modern-day Byzantine icon, bathed in that gold light, except instead of a saint, we have… well, James. There’s a regal quality but also a hint of something almost melancholic in his expression. Curator: I see what you mean. The golden-brown palette and the subject’s averted gaze create this atmosphere, but there's also something intimate and knowing. Ikegwu's realism invites you to search beneath the surface. What do you notice in his stance and garb? Editor: That durag is clearly a deliberate choice, speaking to contemporary urban identity and the layers of cultural meaning it carries, the folds casting subtle shadows like drapery in an old master's work. The shiny bronze jacket hints at performance wear or activewear—the symbolic attributes that root this man in this era. I find his eyes arresting, somehow—he looks wary, yet inviting you into his gaze. What do they convey to you? Curator: You’ve nailed the durag's presence—a complex signifier right there on his head! And yes, the averted gaze—it could suggest self-awareness, shyness, maybe even vulnerability. His is no gaze into a mirror: there is much outside himself that holds his focus. He feels incredibly grounded in the moment despite this. Do you agree? Editor: Grounded, but like he's about to take flight. Perhaps that's why the eyes have me so gripped, he carries wisdom, and seems ready to use it! Tell me, what is the artist trying to say? Curator: Well, that is a tough call, isn’t it? Perhaps a quiet declaration of self-possession, the contemporary everyman elevated through skillful rendering and a distinct sense of style, his gaze conveying a resilience rooted in what seems a profound quiet. Editor: Beautifully put! I can see this work functioning almost like a secular icon—an image imbued with presence and meaning for a new era, echoing a lineage while resolutely claiming its place in the now. Curator: Yes, precisely, it’s a powerful piece with many layers! Editor: I will hold that close. Now if you will excuse me, I need to contemplate these mysteries myself. Thank you for drawing out some insightful threads today!