A Long Day 1979

Editor: So, this is "A Long Day" by Gebre Kristos Desta, painted in 1979, using acrylics. It's…intense. The color palette feels very muted, almost monochromatic, and the figures are distorted. What do you see in this piece, in terms of its symbolism? Curator: Muted is an understatement; I see a draining of color that matches the 'long day' it proposes. What is retained? Greys and neutral hues allow forms to loom in our minds. The recurring eye motif and cloaked figure draw attention. Eyes symbolize knowledge, perception, and even divine omniscience across cultures, while cloaks can signify concealment, mourning, or transformation. It prompts us to wonder what’s being observed and what’s being hidden or altered, perhaps by time, or within the self. What emotional impact does that conjure in you? Editor: It makes me think about hidden truths and things unseen. The veiled figures and the watchful eyes almost feel… oppressive? Like you're being observed, but you can’t quite grasp what's observing you. Is that connected to Ethiopian artistic traditions, or is it more personal to Desta's life? Curator: The feeling of oppression is understandable, yes. Desta synthesized influences widely. There are indigenous elements combined with European modernism. As to how the psychology affects the cultural memory or is shaped by it, do we experience a collective subconscious expressed here? His biography, his displacement and the political climate certainly speak of burdens that may haunt an entire culture. Think of those things as you look; do the muted colors evoke other moments in time, or even suppressed experiences of your own? Editor: That's a powerful way to look at it. It’s much more than just shapes and colors; it feels like a reflection on history and inner turmoil, made visual through symbols. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps understanding symbols empowers us to unearth hidden emotions and memories from individual and collective levels. Editor: I'll never look at abstract paintings the same way.