Faggot Bearer 1994

Bo Bartlett's 'Faggot Bearer' is a painting that, for me, is all about process, about how the artist coaxes form out of a very specific colour palette. It’s a really grounded, earthy kind of making. I find myself lingering over how the texture and colour interact. Look at the figure's pants: the paint is thin, almost translucent in places, creating a sense of depth. The physicality of the medium is evident, but it doesn’t overwhelm the subject. Instead, it enhances the emotional weight of the piece. And then there's the way Bartlett handles the light. It's like he's not just painting what he sees, but what he feels. Thinking about art as an ongoing dialogue, there’s something here that reminds me of Lucian Freud’s portraits, that same unflinching gaze and focus on the human form. Ultimately, Bartlett's painting isn't about fixed meanings, but rather a space for open-ended interpretation.