The Atelier 2011

Kent Monkman made “The Atelier” in 2013; it is photography, but it points towards the act of painting. In this work, Monkman playfully engages with classical art history, making us think about how images are constructed. The textures are fascinating – from the soft, feathered wings to the sheen of the model’s skin. Notice how the artist uses the pose of the figure and the surrounding studio props to create a dialogue between the real and the represented. The canvas on the easel is rendered with thick, visible brushstrokes – you can almost smell the oil paint. In contrast, the photographs stuck on the wall seem flat, like distant memories. Monkman’s work often juxtaposes historical and contemporary references, and you can see this in his wider oeuvre. It’s as if Caravaggio and Jeff Koons had a baby, and that baby decided to critique colonial history. It reminds us that art is always in conversation with itself, constantly reimagining what it means to see and be seen.