I Wanna Be Adored 

Editor: Tania Rivilis’ painting, "I Wanna Be Adored," presents a striking, intensely colored portrait. The texture and vibrant palette grab your attention right away, and I find myself captivated by the gaze of the figure. What resonates most with you when you view this piece? Curator: The title is quite loaded, isn't it? It speaks directly to a primal desire, doesn't it? The way the hands are positioned – almost protective, almost supplicating – emphasizes this vulnerability. Think of how hands are portrayed in religious iconography. They can signify blessing, supplication, or even accusation. Here, the hands seem caught between offering and defense. What do they suggest to you? Editor: I see the vulnerability you mentioned, especially given the directness of the gaze. The reddened hands make me wonder about work or passion, something tangible but also possibly painful. Curator: The redness, definitely. Is it blush? Is it toil? Is it something feverish? In terms of cultural memory, redness, across many cultures, often signifies vitality but also shame, or anger. And that raw brushwork intensifies the feeling. It is not passive observation; it’s an active and even visceral connection with the figure. The figure isn't just presenting themselves, they're enacting a feeling. And we’re caught in the symbolic space that they create. Editor: That’s insightful; it makes the 'want' in the title feel much more urgent. The cultural context really highlights the power of those seemingly simple choices. Curator: Precisely. Visual symbols carry such emotional baggage! Considering how a pose, a color, can tap into this deep well of shared human experience - that's the true adoration, wouldn’t you say? The power of connection! Editor: Absolutely. This has given me so much to think about in terms of how even subtle cues create resonance and tell a story.