Something in the Air 

Curator: Let's delve into "Something in the Air," a contemporary figurative painting by Sarah Joncas. The piece predominantly utilizes acrylic paint, offering a striking portrayal of a young woman. Editor: My first thought is dreamlike and almost ethereal. She seems suspended, caught between worlds, or perhaps mid-transformation. There's an intriguing mix of vulnerability and quiet power radiating from her. Curator: It's interesting that you mention "transformation" because Joncas often explores themes of liminality and identity within the context of contemporary portraiture. The stylistic use of the portrait combined with floral motifs complicates a straightforward reading, pushing at the boundaries of how we understand female representation in art. Editor: Absolutely. The way those flowers seem to be growing from her, merging with her clothing... it blurs the line between the subject and the environment. Almost as if the exterior is a reflection of her interior state or vice versa. And the way her arms are crossed, it gives her a vulnerable and at the same time, a self-contained posture, which is interesting because it is ambiguous and she seems both available and yet also closed off. Curator: Right, the interplay of protection and exposure raises crucial questions about gendered expectations and the construction of self. The title too, "Something in the Air," suggests the presence of unseen forces, political or social atmospheres influencing individual experience. Considering current conversations around environmental anxiety, and the gaze placed on women’s bodies it adds depth to the narrative. Editor: The color palette too is part of that liminality. That muted pastel hair contrasted with the dark, almost gothic background. It evokes a sort of otherworldly quality, a fairy tale perhaps gone slightly off-kilter, unsettling yet lovely. It’s like Joncas is using visual contrasts to speak about societal contradictions, like beauty and decay existing side-by-side. I like art like that that manages to stir more than just aesthetics, more like questions too. Curator: Definitely. "Something in the Air," therefore, functions as both a visual poem and a quiet rebellion against normative portraiture. Its layered meanings provide us room to critically consider notions of femininity, agency, and our present cultural landscape. Editor: Yeah, walking away I find myself still mulling over her expression. It stays with you long after you stop looking, you know? The feeling of introspection it leaves behind… powerful work.