Don’t Let Anyone Tell You 

Editor: Here we have "Don’t Let Anyone Tell You" by Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze, an acrylic painting with a flurry of figuration that makes me think of Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec. I’m really drawn to the almost vulnerable body language in the figures; it’s a complex composition, wouldn’t you agree? What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful statement about societal expectations and the vulnerability of the female form, especially within performance contexts. Consider the legacy of the male gaze in art history and how it has historically framed dancers and performers. This painting subtly disrupts that power dynamic. The figures aren’t posed for the viewer's pleasure; instead, there is a sense of interiority, a shared moment of contemplation or perhaps even resistance. Editor: Resistance to what exactly? Do you mean the physical demands on ballerinas or something else? Curator: Precisely. Think about the gruelling training, the relentless pursuit of an idealised form. There's a tension here between the performative and the personal. Is it about the pressures to conform? To remain silent in the face of objectification? What are they guarding themselves against? Edlinger-Kunze could be alluding to issues prevalent now as ever regarding bodily autonomy and voice. The painting could speak to current intersectional discourse around consent, visibility, and agency. Editor: I never would have gotten all of that on my own, but now I can see the potential messages encoded. So how does the "Don't Let Anyone Tell You" title change the message further? Curator: I think it could suggest that these pressures and internal dialogue, particularly with the figures leaning in on each other, that support system against societal expectations are strong, despite potential barriers. Editor: Okay, I hadn't considered the figures supporting each other as much as all the melancholy in their facial expressions! Curator: Yes, art offers that multiplicity. Looking at their combined postures, Edlinger-Kunze prompts reflection upon a collectivity in performance. Editor: That makes me look at the work completely differently. Curator: It certainly does that. Art offers new perspectives, just like new conversations on what already exists!