The Seer 2017

Jana Brike made this incredible painting called “The Seer” with what looks like oil paint, though it’s so smooth it could be acrylic or even gouache. I love how she's built up the layers of flowers, creating a lush, almost overwhelming sense of nature reclaiming the figure. It reminds me that artmaking can be a kind of ritual, a way of connecting with something larger than ourselves. Look at the way the daisies and forget-me-nots are painted. Each petal is carefully rendered, almost obsessively, and yet there's a looseness to the overall composition. And the butterflies! They add a touch of whimsy, but also a sense of transformation, like the painting is trying to capture a fleeting moment. This piece makes me think of Frida Kahlo, especially her self-portraits surrounded by flowers and foliage. Both artists seem to be exploring themes of identity, nature, and the interconnectedness of all things. And maybe it’s just me, but I’m finding in it a conversation about seeing and being seen.