Banana Mellon 

Editor: So this is Scott Fraser's *Banana Mellon*. What strikes me most is the peculiar juxtaposition. The vibrant fruit and antique scale almost create a still life that feels both nostalgic and slightly absurd. How do you read into this work? Curator: Absurd is a perfect word. I’m reminded of Magritte – things familiar made strange. The weight of the banana and watermelon, quite literally, becomes the focus. Aren't we always weighing things, experiences, emotions? Fraser’s composition compels us to consider: What are the things we measure in life, and what system are we using to do it? What's weighty? Editor: I hadn't considered that! The personal scale, almost like a set of values. Does the use of hyperrealism play into this too? Curator: Absolutely. The sharp detail invites intense scrutiny, just as our society obsessively inspects... everything. Notice the bite taken out of the watermelon pieces? It humanizes the work. Editor: Like it’s been tasted and found to be… what? Wanting? Curator: Maybe it's perfectly ripe, perfectly sweet. Perhaps the work is asking if our systems are capable of measuring something subjective like the peak of enjoyment. Are those scales up to it? I have a feeling this image, light as it seems, invites a good healthy weight of contemplation. Editor: I definitely see the piece in a completely new light now! Curator: And hopefully, now, you feel it a bit differently too. It’s a great weight off my shoulders to share it with you.