The Little Saint 

Editor: So, this is "The Little Saint" by Lu Cong, an oil painting and a fairly contemporary work, I’d guess. I'm struck by the quietness of it, the stillness of the subject and the almost ethereal light. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, immediately, the title "The Little Saint" sets up an expectation, doesn't it? Consider the cultural weight of that word "Saint." Images of saints throughout art history are often filled with specific iconography. Editor: Yes, like halos or symbolic objects... but here, there's none of that. Curator: Exactly. The absence is deliberate, wouldn't you say? What symbols *are* present? Consider the color palette: the gentle lavender, the fiery red hair… colours carry their own historical baggage. Lavender often signifies piety and femininity. Red…what does red symbolize to you? Editor: Passion, maybe… also rebellion, even? Red hair is often used in art as signifier of those who were outliers and perceived as “othered”. Curator: Precisely! So, in this ‘saint’ we have subverted the colour symbols and iconography, creating an interesting dynamic, do you think? Is Lu Cong challenging our inherited notions of holiness? Or is she suggesting everyone carries the spark of divinity? Or maybe there's a more subversive interpretation. Editor: That’s true, this saint looks almost defiant. I hadn't thought of it that way before, focusing on her gaze. Curator: Her gaze, exactly! Does it inspire piety? Or does it encourage you to think for yourself? Symbols often point towards the status quo but subverting these creates conversations. Editor: I’m definitely walking away questioning what it really means to be a “saint” in this day and age! Thanks! Curator: A pleasure! I think digging into symbolism unlocks layers of the human psyche embedded into any visual form.