A falling so Deep 2022

Curator: This is "A falling so Deep," an acrylic on canvas artwork created by Lanise Howard in 2022. Editor: My first impression is that of a contemporary take on Romanticism—that tender embrace, the ethereal moon, and the overgrown natural setting. There is something intensely intimate about it. Curator: Absolutely, it draws on familiar motifs, like the bower as a place of retreat. Notice how Howard uses the agave plants—symbols of strength and longevity in some cultures—to frame the figures, offering both protection and, perhaps, a sense of confinement. Editor: That is so interesting! I'd assumed they were simply part of a landscape intended to evoke peacefulness and natural beauty. Considering the political history of Black figures within idyllic settings, this image carries more weight. The overgrown quality lends a sort of prelapsarian timelessness. It contrasts strongly with, say, a carefully manicured and cultivated garden. Curator: Precisely! The moth is also quite striking, seemingly a lunar moth, known for transformation. Consider this in the context of portraits depicting couples in the visual vocabulary of art history. It is never *just* a likeness, right? Here, it feels like Howard is depicting two people in transition, or perhaps seeking refuge during such a period. Editor: And how relevant this feels to our present moment! There is a certain amount of cultural exhaustion that stems from contemporary life that makes this portrayal incredibly attractive. I wonder if the figures' closed eyes signify a rejection of the external world, or an inward turn towards reflection and healing? Curator: It certainly avoids the tradition of confronting the viewer, placing us as an audience to their interiority. This allows for empathy, though on slightly voyeuristic terms, to see something so private in a public space. Editor: Seeing "A falling so Deep" offers a timely reminder that sometimes, looking inward, together, is a necessary form of resistance and regeneration. Curator: Yes, this painting seems to call us to find solace and strength within ourselves and in our relationships, particularly in these tumultuous times.