NSA data center, Bluffdale, Utah 2019

Editor: Jarik Jongman's "NSA data center, Bluffdale, Utah," painted in 2019. It's quite striking, all shimmering golds and ominous darks rendered in oil. There’s something unsettling about it, like a distorted memory. What symbols or hidden narratives do you think might be at play here? Curator: Unsettling is an apt word. Consider how Jongman chose to represent this physical structure – a place built to observe. See how the golden light, usually a symbol of the divine or preciousness, feels almost sickly, artificial? Is this the "gold" of information, and what price is exacted to obtain it? Editor: That's a powerful point, reframing gold as something almost toxic. I hadn't thought about the idea of observation as an inherent symbol. Curator: Exactly! Think of the all-seeing eye, a motif that's echoed throughout various cultures, signifying power, knowledge, or even surveillance. This structure *is* an eye in the modern world, collecting data. Notice the abstract expressionist style – the unease conveyed through broken, geometric shapes? Are those "lines" of code… or are they prison bars? Editor: I see what you mean. It’s as if Jongman’s using these fragmented images to create a sense of claustrophobia and overwhelming control. Are these painterly styles meant to suggest a lack of clear answers? Curator: Precisely. The lack of resolution forces *us* to complete the narrative. Jongman isn’t giving us answers but rather posing questions about authority, privacy, and the psychological impact of constant monitoring. It forces us to look at symbols of safety differently. Editor: That's fascinating. It changes my perception of the painting entirely. I’ll definitely consider those layers of symbolic meaning going forward. Curator: Indeed. Remember, visual symbols can be powerful tools for uncovering deep-seated cultural anxieties and power structures. Every artistic choice resonates!