Mr. Wright 

Editor: We're looking at Alfred Conteh's painting, "Mr. Wright." It seems to be made of oil paint and has a very striking color palette. The first thing I notice is the teal lines on the man's face, which is interesting against the backdrop of gold. What's your interpretation of this work? Curator: For me, "Mr. Wright" presents an opportunity to consider the materiality of portraiture and its relationship to lived experience, specifically labor. Think about Conteh's choice of oil paint: historically prized for its capacity to render skin tones and textures with astonishing realism. Yet here, that tradition is disrupted by the disruptive use of teal. What might it suggest about the surface appearance versus the reality of identity? Editor: That’s an interesting point. The lines almost look like veins, but in this bold unnatural colour. Does it say something about how the individual is perceived or even how he sees himself? Curator: Precisely. Now, consider also how the materiality is a conduit of power and resistance. This use of color is deliberately chosen to convey this very dichotomy: How has the means of production contributed to that? Are those dripping lines a consequence of work? Stress? Tears? What social and economic structures create such visible marks? Editor: It certainly invites the viewer to think about labor and identity in new ways, looking at the way he used a specific medium in that portrait to show an experience. So we’re moving beyond representation to an understanding of process and material choices as narrative tools. Curator: Indeed, by drawing attention to the materiality and its manipulation, Conteh challenges us to rethink traditional notions of portraiture as mere likeness and understand the role that materials play in crafting complex narratives. Editor: I see the work with a fresh perspective now. Thanks for sharing your insight. Curator: And thank you. It’s important to remember how closely materials, processes, and social messages are connected when we view and appreciate artwork like Conteh's "Mr. Wright."