Critical Thinking 2020

Editor: Martine Johanna's 2020 oil painting, "Critical Thinking," features two women in a somewhat surreal, dreamlike setting. I’m really struck by the expressions on their faces, this intense and slightly unsettling intimacy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's a fascinating piece in how it subtly plays with visual memory. The rainbow background, for instance. Do you think it feels naive and saccharine, or is there perhaps another layer? Editor: I initially saw it as just a colourful backdrop, maybe slightly out of place. Now that you mention it, there is something more there, something a little discordant… Like childhood innocence, but tinged with adult complexity. Curator: Exactly! The rainbow, traditionally a symbol of hope and promise, could represent the false promises we internalize. These women are rendered in almost classical poses. See how their faces don't quite meet? What unspoken tensions could that positioning suggest to you? Editor: It’s like they're both present but somehow disconnected, almost trapped by expectation. Is Johanna trying to represent women’s internal struggles, particularly through symbolism? Curator: Possibly. Consider how the painting uses recognisable symbols to engage our collective memory but offers no clear resolution, which mirrors the open-ended and cyclical nature of critical thinking itself. Maybe it's inviting the viewer to perform some 'critical thinking' of their own... Editor: That’s a great point. The artwork is very evocative. Thanks, this has provided some very rich ideas to consider and explore! Curator: It was my pleasure. Exploring visual symbolism helps reveal cultural memory.