Contagion 

Curator: Let's discuss "Contagion" by Sarah Joncas, a painting which strikes me as deeply relevant in our current moment. Editor: My first impression is melancholy, even fragility. The soft pinks and greys create a muted palette. Curator: I think Joncas is exploring the contagious nature of emotions, ideas, perhaps even identity, using the imagery of spreading particles. It definitely seems like an exploration of societal influences on the self. Editor: I see that now, especially with how those smoky, almost cartoonish shapes appear to drip and permeate the figure. Speaking of the figure, the application of acrylic paints is notably smooth, which I think contrasts strikingly with those more gestural smoky forms. What does that suggest to you? Curator: Perhaps it signifies the constructed nature of appearances versus the more fluid, almost chaotic internal state or societal atmosphere. Consider how women have historically been asked to smooth, and therefore silence, elements of their interior experience. Editor: Good point. And her downturned gaze adds to the sense of unease. How is the artist representing labour through process and material? Curator: I see labour perhaps in the painstaking detail of the face, contrasting it with the almost cursory treatment of the background. Is the focus more to make sure we only consider female emotional labour while minimizing the real work that goes into all aspects of their appearance? It reminds me of Arlie Hochschild’s work on emotional labour. Editor: A compelling analysis. There’s also a tension between the seeming mass-produced feel of those polka dots and the bespoke element in rendering that beautiful face. I think those kind of decisions point us to understanding where Sarah Joncas thinks value is held in society, even art. Curator: This work allows us to discuss the pervasive spread of ideas and how social expectations impact personal identity and especially female expression. I’m left thinking about what internal boundaries need reinforcing, and which may benefit from letting things through. Editor: Yes. "Contagion" offers a powerful statement about our contemporary landscape of shared experiences—be they welcome or not. The exploration of both materials and social constructs really resonated.