The eye of justice 2016

Editor: Here we have "The Eye of Justice," a watercolor created by Mariojos Ángeles in 2016. The vibrant, almost clashing colors give me a sense of instability, yet the eye-like form holds it together. What strikes you most about its formal elements? Curator: Immediately, the disjunctive colour palette commands attention; observe how the Fauvist tendency towards non-naturalistic colour is in play here. Note, especially, the tension created by the juxtaposition of cool blues and intense reds. How does this visual push and pull inform the supposed subject matter? Editor: It's almost jarring, this contrast. But you mention the subject - even with a title like "The Eye of Justice," do you find the representation is primarily formal? Curator: Indeed. The titular "eye" can be viewed less as representation, and more as a formal device—a central vortex around which the colour field oscillates. Note the deployment of line; see how its fluidity and its lack of concrete contours serves to negate any strict representational reading. It is line as pure form, as energetic articulation. How does the chosen medium of watercolour further enhance these effects? Editor: The watery quality definitely adds to the sense of fluidity and lack of firm boundaries you’re talking about. It softens everything. So even the eye is more of an implied presence. Curator: Precisely. It transcends simple mimesis; the semiotic sign of the ‘eye’ operates on a far more profound, and abstract, plane. It’s the essence of vision, perhaps the *idea* of justice rendered through chromatic and gestural dynamism. Editor: I see how focusing on color, line, and the properties of the medium allows for a deeper read of this piece. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It is through such careful examination that the intrinsic artistic value becomes clear, independent of any external narrative.