Hibisci En Stokrose 

Editor: Take a look at Maggie Laubser's "Hibisci En Stokrose", an oil painting radiating with warmth and vibrant colour. It looks like a Fauvist still life, doesn’t it? It is strikingly vibrant, but I'm not sure why. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, considering the social and cultural context of Laubser’s work is essential. As a South African artist trained in Europe, she navigated a complex art world. The Fauvist influence is clear, but it’s not just a simple adoption of style. It’s how she used it to depict her own environment. How do you think the colours relate to the specific location she's depicting? Editor: Perhaps it's to do with how the bright colour depicts her African upbringing rather than the sombre landscapes of Europe? She clearly picked up Fauvism from Europe. But the bright colours and warm composition could suggest a kind of rebellion against traditional European standards. Curator: Exactly! Think about the institutional gatekeepers of the time, predominantly white European men. By embracing bold, expressive colours, she challenges the established, often restrained, aesthetic preferences and injects her unique cultural experience into the art world. Editor: I see. So, it’s less about the flowers themselves and more about Laubser's assertion of her identity within a larger, often exclusionary, art system. So, this vibrant, sunny still life actually subverts the social norms in terms of colour! That’s not something I considered at first glance. Curator: Right! By focusing on the 'how' and 'why' of its creation and reception, we understand it to be a cultural statement, a visual dialogue with the prevailing art politics of the time. Editor: That opens up a totally different way of approaching the painting. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. I've also learned something by talking it through with you!