Monkey Business 2005

Editor: Right, next up we have "Monkey Business," an acrylic painting from 2005 by Janet Fish. There’s just so much happening! It's a bit overwhelming but also exciting...all those colors. What's your take? Curator: Overwhelming is right! But in a good way, like a summer garden exploding with life. Fish, bless her heart, wasn't afraid of a little visual chaos. It feels deeply intuitive, almost like she’s translated the pure, buzzing energy of a moment onto the canvas. Do you notice how the objects aren't neatly arranged? Editor: Yes, it looks almost… accidental? Curator: Precisely! More “happened upon” than carefully constructed. That's part of its charm, I think. There’s a feeling of immediacy, of capturing a fleeting glimpse. The way she handles light is phenomenal; everything glows and vibrates, those wild colors reflecting onto each other. And it’s kind of humorous, isn’t it? The cheeky title coupled with this near-frenzy of fruit and glassware. Editor: It’s definitely making me rethink the whole ‘still life’ thing! So, it’s about more than just painting objects? Curator: Oh, absolutely! It's about feeling, about the joy of seeing. Fish isn’t just showing us a pineapple; she’s showing us how light makes a pineapple sing. You know? Editor: That… actually makes a lot of sense! It's less about the "what" and more about the "how." Thanks! I feel like I understand it, and her, a bit better now. Curator: My pleasure! It’s those “how” moments that make art, well, art!