Sea of Change No 008 2018

Editor: So this is "Sea of Change No. 008" by Jana Brike, painted in 2018 using acrylic. There’s something incredibly dreamlike about it – the figures wading in the water, almost otherworldly. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the powerful symbolism and how Brike situates these figures within a very specific cultural and historical visual language. The pregnant figure crowned in gold, flanked by a more traditionally maternal figure, triggers various iconographic references – perhaps deliberately invoking images of sovereignty and feminine power juxtaposed against societal expectations. Where do you think Brike’s challenges, or perhaps even subverts, these readings? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way! I was focusing more on the "fantasy art" style and less on how those elements create a conversation about power dynamics and societal roles. The wave in the background now feels less like a pretty backdrop and more like a metaphor for upheaval. Curator: Precisely! Think about how the 'fantasy art' tag itself, or its presence in a gallery setting, might distance it from a 'high art' conversation. But then the artist pulls us back in by prompting considerations of representation and cultural expectation. The painting engages with popular art; what do you think Brike's inclusion of the younger figures and even the greyhounds add to this interpretation? Editor: Perhaps it’s a multi-generational exploration. With figures from different life stages inhabiting this space, each adds layers of meaning regarding innocence, experience, and future. And now the dogs strike me more like guardians than just cute pets. This gives me a completely different appreciation for this artwork. Thanks for making me see it in a new light! Curator: Absolutely! It’s fascinating how the blending of personal symbolism with established visual motifs invites multiple layers of readings and prompts conversations around cultural values and artistic categorisation.