Eyes 2016

Curator: Immediately I feel anxiety looking at this. All the raw colours...what are those big, disconnected eyes looking at? Editor: This compelling 2016 work, simply titled "Eyes," is by Michael Hafftka. The drawing employs ink and watercolor in a powerful expressionistic style, revolving around themes of figuration and portraiture. Curator: Expressionism. Yes! It captures such a frenzied state, almost like peering into a fragmented psyche. I love the stark contrast between the delicate watercolor washes and the agitated ink scribbles, you know? Like a battle between reason and...feeling? Editor: Absolutely. And Hafftka often confronts profound themes through this kind of raw visual language. I mean, consider the broader socio-political landscape in 2016— the rising anxieties reflected in global events... Could that have permeated Hafftka’s work? It’s fascinating how personal and collective experiences can become intertwined in art. Curator: It definitely speaks to that, doesn't it? The spiraling reds...is that a wound? Is it supposed to express rage? Then, this second face formed of giant eyes which seem to be watching. This is almost disturbing. It almost challenges the viewer, creating discomfort and demanding that the subject's experience be seen. Editor: Right. Expressionism historically became this vehicle for artists to engage with traumatic experiences. Think back to the German Expressionists confronting the horrors of World War One. They distorted reality in order to portray their own truth. Here the materials mirror the message - almost immediate, as though rendered on the go to record an observation. Curator: Exactly! Hafftka taps into that visceral power of the style, reminding us that art can be a mirror reflecting not just physical appearances, but also the turmoil beneath. Editor: And reminding us that such reflections can serve a vital function in the broader cultural conversation, giving visual form to our collective unease. Well, this was more intriguing than my initial read! Curator: Me too. It's a journey inward, unsettling as it may be. It is always fascinating, though.