Relative Safety 2021

Curator: Aaron Nagel’s 2021 oil painting, "Relative Safety," immediately strikes me. The model’s coolly colored skin contrasts starkly with the warm hues of her eyes. There's an intentional disconnect created by the strange, mask-like addition on her face. Editor: Indeed. That geometric shape disrupts what could have been a serene portrait, creating a rather unsettling effect. What's your interpretation of that motif, the colored covering over half of the face? It's oddly futuristic while also feeling very immediate. Curator: Nagel's style often delves into themes of protection and vulnerability. Masks historically bear cultural significance as representations of transformation or concealment. The blue color might symbolize a detachment, or even a kind of forced serenity. Visually, this choice casts her in a somewhat alien light. It hides some portion of identity while, paradoxically, revealing more about how we present ourselves. Editor: That plays well against the contemporary backdrop, where we are so often encouraged to display ourselves and participate, while also encouraged to construct particular performances of selfhood. There’s a real tension. Do you think the tension between exposure and protection are reflected in her attire as well? She appears sensual but somehow restrained at once, draped in that lush kimono with traditional floral patterns. Curator: Absolutely. The kimono could symbolize layers, both literal and figurative. The colorful pattern adds to that dichotomy—beauty alongside something perhaps being concealed. Notice how that turquoise shade mimics some of the hair colors here and there; this all helps build visual continuities. Editor: So perhaps this “relative safety” is less about physical shielding and more about a psychological boundary that individuals construct and negotiate, especially now? How we curate the image that is on display to others in various ways? Nagel seems to hint that safety itself may be as much about a projected persona as genuine protection. Curator: Precisely! The artwork highlights that precarious balance between revealing and concealing, forcing the audience to contemplate on how we each seek safety in an increasingly hyper-connected, performative world. Editor: It certainly offers a lot to unpack regarding self-presentation and perception, offering layers upon layers worth revisiting!