The Crown 

Curator: David Michael Bowers is the artist behind the oil painting we’re looking at, titled "The Crown". What are your initial thoughts? Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the almost staged contrast. There’s a theatrical element, certainly in the lighting and the posed figures, with a hint of surrealism, which unsettles the whole scene. Curator: Staged is a good descriptor. Considering that this is narrative art, let’s unpack that a little bit more. We see two women set within a sort of ambiguous landscape. One is seated, adorned with a crown of thorns. She's also holding a shovel and is rather demure in posture. The other figure is standing behind her, with an elevated aura to the other figure, but with more elevated footwear and attire. There seems to be a push and pull, if not outright conflict. What story might Bowers be telling here? Editor: For me, that “crown” speaks volumes, right? Immediately I’m thinking of religious iconography, specifically the Passion. The juxtaposition of her 'humble' attire with the modern red shoes makes the statement even more interesting. Curator: Absolutely. And those shoes offer an entry point to discuss power dynamics within the painting. The overt reference to religious themes is complicated by the 'everyday' look, as if this were a regular part of someone’s daily wear. We've certainly moved away from religious conservatism if this has become so mainstream, a new symbol of female identity and a comment about the status and value we now place on things. Editor: The other figure’s placement almost looming over the seated one. Is that dominance or concern? Is it protection? The whole painting is drenched in dualities – opulence versus austerity, freedom versus restraint... Curator: Well put! Perhaps Bowers uses these visual oppositions to ask us if true authority comes from within, versus from the privileges, finery, and elevated appearance? It becomes less a study about hierarchy, but perhaps a personal excavation. Editor: It all makes you wonder about who “The Crown” really belongs to in this composition and within contemporary life. An unsettling yet striking statement. Curator: Indeed. This work provides plenty to consider regarding modern values. Editor: A potent invitation for conversation, indeed.