Self Portrait 2019

Curator: Immediately striking, isn't it? There's something intensely present in the eyes. Editor: It feels very immediate, like I’ve caught a glimpse of someone lost in thought. A touch melancholic, perhaps? All those shades of gray seem to enhance it. Curator: This piece is titled "Self Portrait" by Sami Gattoufi, created in 2019. It's a pencil drawing, and I find its unpretentious quality deeply compelling. Pencil carries such a humble history as the bedrock of learning and draftsmanship. Editor: The layering of those pencil strokes, almost frantic in places, is what catches my eye. There's an unfinished energy to it. Look at how the hair is a wild halo of scribbles and yet the eyes have a careful directness to them. Curator: Precisely. That interplay is central to the portrait's dynamism. It’s interesting how self-representation often walks this line between exposure and concealment. The artist reveals themself and yet maintains some emotional distance. Editor: It makes you wonder about the act of self-reflection, doesn't it? Whether it's about carefully building a representation, a narrative. Or about peeling away layers to get at some 'truth.' Perhaps Gattoufi is just feeling their way towards some sense of self in that moment. Curator: The history of the self-portrait is long and multifaceted— from the religious symbolism in early depictions to the more secular inquiries into identity with which we're now so familiar. There’s this implicit vulnerability whenever an artist presents themselves. Editor: Well, whatever the intention, the work is deeply evocative. It is interesting that the overall expression strikes me as calm, or maybe pensive is more the thing... The contrast against that energetic line work lends a real tension to the overall image. I see both serenity and restless curiosity here. Curator: It's a wonderful encapsulation of the artistic process and of a self in formation. The open ended composition provides much to explore on repeat viewing. Editor: I couldn't agree more. It's a piece that invites more questions than answers, and there is the lasting appeal for me.