Moonlit 2021

Editor: This is "Moonlit," an acrylic on panel piece made in 2021 by Jason Limon. The imagery feels whimsical yet macabre. The skeleton figures immediately capture attention. What significance do you see in these combined images? Curator: The skeleton is such a powerful symbol across cultures. Often associated with mortality, here, it's juxtaposed with the moon, stars and the inscription "wake up". What cultural memory does this stir for you? Think of dream states, perhaps, or even spiritual awakenings. Editor: The "wake up" aspect definitely shifts the meaning, and I suppose disrupts a purely dark interpretation. It almost makes it encouraging. Curator: Precisely. And look at how Limon employs geometric patterns on the moon, contrasting it with the naturalistic depiction of the skeleton. Does that contrast suggest anything to you about the artificial versus the organic? The fleeting versus the eternal? Consider how the starry backdrop contributes to that symbolism. Stars often symbolize guidance or destiny. Editor: It does make you think about larger concepts, absolutely. The "wake up" part almost makes me consider that the skeleton may have some agency to go in pursuit of those stars and dreams. Curator: An interesting read. So, how might one read the image, then? Do we embrace our mortality to awaken to life's possibilities, perhaps? Editor: Definitely an unexpected message, viewing the skeleton like this changes your perspective. There are many ways to look at these shared images across cultures. Thank you! Curator: Indeed. These symbolic interactions always grant opportunities for introspection. It makes you consider the dialogue our minds develop to interpret such cultural intersections.