Moonlight Shadow 2018

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to David Michael Hinnebusch's mixed media painting, "Moonlight Shadow," created in 2018. What strikes you first? Editor: An immediate feeling of tension, a certain anxiety. The high-contrast black lines seem to capture the figure’s raw emotional state through jagged marks and somewhat chaotic strokes. Curator: I agree about the rawness. Notice how the artist employs line, both to delineate form and disrupt it. The portrait employs abstract expressionistic gestures while firmly retaining elements of figuration, an art historical touchpoint. Editor: The artist's focus on stark monochrome does reinforce an emotional reading. But let's consider Hinnebusch’s broader themes. Do you read these figures and animals as symbols of trauma, or perhaps manifestations of psychological burdens experienced within a certain societal framework? Curator: The triangular shape, the overlaid, pale triangle does introduce an interesting visual interruption and pushes the boundary. Without it, we might be squarely in the realm of straightforward portraiture, a simple emotional reveal. Editor: Interesting point. This compositional interruption pushes a reading of something obscured or highlighted, not easily perceived. This reading, supported by the animalistic figures, suggests issues that are both deeply personal and linked to systemic oppressions. The portrait suggests a broader discourse, rather than a solo story. Curator: I am drawn to the artist’s technique. Look at how the brushstrokes build the subject, using quick, gestural marks. He captures form, light, and movement with just a few well-placed strokes, maximizing minimal material for a visually powerful impact. Editor: Absolutely, this approach emphasizes spontaneity but the lines tell the full story if you consider how the subjects might connect, and why this particular medium was the choice. There is a social commentary in the line's rawness itself, beyond form. Curator: Ultimately, “Moonlight Shadow” leaves one pondering. Formally compelling with layers of depth revealed through strong compositional structure and stylistic economy. Editor: Yes, both a product and critique, echoing unresolved struggles while demanding active witnessing from the viewer.