We Live in Her Dreams 

Editor: Miriam Schapiro’s mixed-media piece, "We Live in Her Dreams", bursts with figures. It's vibrant and lively, but also a bit chaotic with the way everything's arranged, sort of like a complex collage of symbols and shapes. What stands out to you in its composition? Curator: Formally, the composition uses high-key color contrasts to create an energetic, almost dizzying visual field. Notice how the central triangle acts as a point of stability, yet its stark whiteness intensifies the surrounding chromatic activity. How do you interpret the relationship between this central form and the outlying figures? Editor: I hadn’t considered the triangle like that, a stabilizer. The outer figures, almost primitive in style, seem to dance around it, maybe hinting at different cultural references? Curator: Precisely. The juxtaposition generates visual tension, prompting an analysis of the work’s structure rather than focusing on singular narratives. Consider also Schapiro’s handling of texture. What does it suggest to you? Editor: There’s a collage effect with the layering, so that brings a depth, making you wonder what elements are meant to recede or advance. It does bring out a tactile dimension within the work, even if it's a flat picture. Curator: Yes, this emphasis on layering underscores a dialogue between surface and depth. It subverts conventional notions of pictorial space. By using these different applied textures and bright clashing colours the composition seems like a discourse of various artistic languages interacting. Editor: That makes me see it with fresh eyes, I was caught up in decoding all those figures individually, I really like the point about the art languages now, thank you. Curator: You are most welcome. Understanding the elements helps appreciate its unique discourse of visual interactions.