Summer 2018

Editor: This is "Summer," a mixed-media piece from 2018 by Harmonia Rosales. The juxtaposition of the figure and snake really strikes me, but the gold leaf steals the show. What stands out to you about this painting? Curator: The formal elements construct a powerful statement. Note how Rosales uses the circular composition—the halo behind the figure, mimicked by the snake's coil—to create visual harmony, guiding the eye through the painting. The application of gold leaf, juxtaposed with the dark skin tone, generates a symbolic dichotomy between divinity and earthly existence, light and dark, which is carried through the tonality of the entire composition. Editor: I can definitely see that tension now. Do you think the snake is just a compositional choice, or does it symbolize something deeper? Curator: The serpent, as an artistic figure, historically possesses diverse interpretations. Without direct insight into Rosales' intention, consider the intrinsic qualities here: its placement coiled so intimately around the figure suggests both protection and constraint. Is the subject held captive by its own virtue? Note how the eyes are the focal point in the picture, bringing awareness back to the relationship between light, dark, divinity, earthly existence. Editor: I never thought of it like that. Seeing how the snake's placement and the circular pattern plays on the picture's structure does deepen my understanding a bit. Curator: Precisely. By closely analyzing the formal composition, we gain a new appreciation for how shapes and patterns build visual and metaphorical tension. It's not merely what is depicted but how it is depicted that communicates meaning. Editor: I agree. Thank you. Looking at those formal qualities has revealed a lot I wouldn't have considered otherwise.