Plastic Love 2021

This watercolor painting, Plastic Love, made by Daria Theodora sometime in the 20th century, is like a dream you can’t quite grasp. Just looking at it I think it must have come into being layer by layer, with the artist letting the translucent washes pool and flow, creating these soft, surreal forms. I imagine Daria Theodora hunched over the paper, carefully building up the colors, letting the water do its thing, and then stepping in to guide it. She probably felt like Alice herself, tumbling down the rabbit hole, unsure of where she was going but trusting her instincts. There’s this incredible tension between control and chance, which I think so many artists can relate to. The whimsical subject is so at odds with the sadness in Alice’s eyes. The way she renders the hair, like spun sugar, is beautiful, and that flamingo’s beak, poised to strike, adds a real edge. It reminds me of other figurative painters, like Paula Rego, who aren't afraid to delve into the darker sides of childhood. For me, painting is always a conversation, a dialogue across time and space. Each artist borrowing, stealing, and transforming what came before, adding their own voice to the chorus.