Castalia 2018

Curator: Here we have "Castalia", an oil painting completed in 2018 by the contemporary Italian artist Roberto Ferri. What strikes you initially? Editor: The pervasive stillness. It's a very poised composition; the subject is centered in the darkness. There is almost a photographic focus to the skin’s tonality in relation to the overall shadows. Curator: Ferri overtly aligns himself with academic painting. This work engages with classical themes. In Greek mythology, Castalia was a nymph transformed into a spring at Delphi, associated with poetic inspiration. The figure's nudity and the dark background allude to familiar tropes of Western art history. However, the tattoos feel strangely out of place, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Well, exactly! They disrupt the smooth surface, almost like a code needing decryption. In that sense, they work counter to the stillness to suggest narrative or meaning that exists outside just being a representation of form. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps a contemporary twist on a muse? The placement on the figure also invites consideration. What do they represent in terms of control, submission, the agency of the body itself in relation to tradition and sexuality? Are these commentaries? Editor: Perhaps both the tradition and its critique are represented through light: See how it models the figure. A single, directed source highlights contours, muscles and textures. Notice how her downward gaze denies the viewer total access. Curator: Which plays into how viewers may interpret power. She is present but unavailable. So many female figures throughout history were robbed of agency and presented for the male gaze, yes? What does this work contribute? What dialogues is it in conversation with? Editor: The work challenges traditional, static portrayals by layering contemporary symbols onto a classical structure, making it an exciting synthesis of history and commentary. I agree completely that there is much to be gained by simply slowing down to consider. Curator: I find the figure a reminder that even within established styles, we can find critical lenses that prompt discussion. Ferri reminds us that tradition is something to engage with.