Untitled 2019

Editor: This "Untitled" watercolor by Mariojosé Ángeles, made in 2019, strikes me as whimsical, almost dreamlike. There’s this curious figure in the center, but its placement within the composition feels very open to interpretation. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, I think its power comes precisely from that ambiguity. The "Untitled" nature frees us from a prescribed reading. Thinking about this piece historically, consider the changing role of art institutions. Historically, art was commissioned and controlled by the powerful. A work like this represents a democratization of expression. What socio-political implications can we draw from a piece that invites personal reflection? Editor: I guess that makes sense. I hadn’t thought about how the title itself contributes to the meaning, or lack thereof! It definitely throws off any kind of imposed narrative. Curator: Exactly! And what about the watercolor medium itself? Traditionally, it's seen as less "important" than oil. But here, Ángeles elevates it. Is that choice in materials potentially a subtle form of rebellion against artistic hierarchies? Editor: So, are you suggesting that the artist may have chosen watercolor to intentionally challenge established norms within the art world? Curator: Precisely. It urges us to look beyond the surface, and at the very systems of valuation that elevate some forms of art over others. Now what if this were in an art gallery or government building, and why might or might not this artist chose to put a piece like this in a gallery? Editor: I hadn’t considered that the choice of medium and lack of title are powerful statements on their own. Thanks, that's really given me something to think about. Curator: Me too, I love questioning our ingrained cultural assumptions.