Voices 2022

Martine Johanna made this painting called 'Voices', maybe in the 21st century, who knows, but the when doesn't really matter, does it? The way Johanna builds up color is so intense, almost like she's layering emotions instead of paint. You can see it especially in the way she’s treated the hair. The texture isn't just about depicting strands; it's like each stroke carries a vibration, a voice, echoing the title. There's something about the way the red light touches the model's shoulder that gets me, it makes my eyes jump between the bright oranges, reds and greens and you get a feeling of warmth, even when there is something melancholic about her gaze. Like a memory flickering in and out of focus. It's something that makes me think of Elizabeth Peyton's portraits, that same kind of intimacy and ambiguity. It feels like the painting is in conversation with so much art history, while still being so new. It reminds us that art isn't a monologue, but an ongoing dialogue, full of contradictions and open questions.