Map of the EU 2021

Curator: Here we have Gretchen Andrew’s "Map of the EU," a mixed-media piece created in 2021. It’s currently part of the LACMA’s collection. Editor: It strikes me immediately as something whimsical, almost dreamlike. The collage elements give it a layered, tactile quality, even in reproduction. The color palette is dominated by pastels with vibrant cobalt bursts—it's unexpected. Curator: The composition certainly leans into a structured layering. Observe how Andrew employs drawing, collage, and floral elements to create a narrative space. Semiotically, the flowers and butterflies, scattered around the silhouette, perform as ornamentation, but they simultaneously obscure and soften the figure’s form. Editor: The butterflies, of course, are an age-old symbol of transformation, of metamorphosis. Seeing them interspersed with images that read as a generic fashion-forward aspiration suggests the construction of an identity, or a commentary on consumerist idealism, that seems…deliberately ambiguous. It creates an interesting tension. The 'EU' in the title clashes with that dreamy aesthetic; perhaps questioning its image in the current global landscape? Curator: Intriguing thought. If we analyze the underlying structure further, one might perceive a Foucauldian examination of power. The layering effect almost replicates systems of influence, impacting our perception. And note the flat, graphic quality contrasted against sections that use real dimensional blooms, creating a disruption of surface expectations. Editor: Indeed. And culturally, flowers carry an inherent feminine connotation—linking this imagery to broader discussions around gendered spaces, identity, even labor within Europe. I also can’t help but wonder, how much does digital culture impact an artwork, particularly one created using mixed media? Considering current online obsession of representing an idyllic lifestyle for the internet. Curator: That’s a particularly salient point, given Andrew's engagement with digital landscapes and "in real life (IRL)" interventions, questioning our perception and expectations of value in digital age. The butterflies become then pixels scattered over this imagined space, or even an ironic echo of "butterfly" filters, distorting and playing with identities on digital platform. Editor: Seeing the layering, it really emphasizes the multi-faceted experience the viewers carry to construct their perception and experience of reality. I came in expecting simple whimsy, but find something rather compelling. Curator: A worthwhile re-framing indeed. It enriches our understanding through this interplay.