Pestilence 

Editor: Here we have "Pestilence," an acrylic painting, potentially undated, by Sarah Joncas. It features a surreal portrait with a haunting yet delicate mood. The stark, blue-toned figure with dripping pigment is quite striking. What do you see in this piece, considered through the lens of art history? Curator: It's interesting to consider this image through a socio-political framework. The title "Pestilence" immediately conjures thoughts of widespread disease and societal upheaval. How might this contemporary piece speak to our current anxieties and historical understanding of plagues and pandemics, such as the AIDS epidemic or more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic? Editor: That's a fascinating way to approach it. I was initially focused on the more aesthetic qualities, the contrasting colours and the smooth finish. How the artist uses classical portraiture but distorts it with these surreal elements. Curator: Absolutely, and that interplay is key. Consider the butterfly, a traditional symbol of transformation and hope, juxtaposed against the decaying, almost sickly blue figure. How does this visual contradiction play into the politics of representation, particularly regarding illness, beauty, and societal perceptions of vulnerability? Is it exploiting or empowering the figure? Editor: I hadn’t really considered it as an overtly political piece. I guess the visual language of decay and transformation could be seen as a commentary on societal anxieties about health and mortality. It almost presents disease in a beautiful yet disturbing way. Curator: Precisely! And by engaging with this tension, Joncas positions her work within a broader conversation about the power of imagery and its potential to challenge or reinforce dominant narratives. The question is, what narrative does the viewer bring, and which is supported or upended? Editor: It's fascinating to see how much historical and cultural weight can be packed into a single image. This reframes how I see Joncas’ other works too. Curator: Indeed. Thinking about it historically and politically opens up a whole new dimension to understanding its impact.