And It Will Keep on Growing 2020

Editor: This is "And It Will Keep on Growing" by Joana Choumali, a textile piece at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by how the embroidery interacts with the photographic image underneath. What do you see in this piece that stands out formally? Curator: The juxtaposition of photographic realism and crafted embroidery is certainly compelling. Notice how the texture of the embroidered figure contrasts with the smooth, almost dreamlike quality of the printed cityscape and sunset sky. This visual dichotomy creates a tension that animates the surface. How does that tension affect your reading of the image? Editor: It makes me think about different layers of reality. I feel like I am experiencing two different worlds in one artwork. It’s quite intriguing! Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: Indeed, the formal elements invite a consideration of layered experiences, where texture and image coalesce into a complex visual statement.