The Word of Emotion 2018

Editor: This is "The Word of Emotion" by Soey Milk, created in 2018. It's a painting with a bold figurative style that really strikes me. I'm intrigued by how the hyperreal figure contrasts with the almost chaotic background. What do you see in this piece from a formalist perspective? Curator: Thank you for the introduction. From a formalist viewpoint, the most compelling element is the interplay between the realistic rendering of the figure and the abstract, almost chaotic, background. Consider the sharp, defined lines of the model against the blurred, gestural strokes surrounding her. The high contrast is quite visually arresting, would you agree? Editor: Yes, definitely! The textures, too. The smooth skin juxtaposed with the rough paint and the graffiti-like floral patterns. It's quite a visual experience. Curator: Precisely! And observe the color palette. The flesh tones are relatively muted and realistic, yet the surrounding colors – deep blacks, blues, with striking reds in the heels and draping fabrics – amplify the sense of tension. The work becomes less about subject and more about exploring visual languages and compositional dynamics. The use of contrasting lines, colours and form creating a kind of visual disharmony. The tension is in this. Editor: That's a really insightful point. It makes me think about how much information and emotion can be communicated just through form, color, and composition. Curator: Exactly. By focusing on these formal elements, we uncover the intrinsic power of the artwork beyond representational or narrative considerations. It’s an exploration of the vocabulary of visual art itself. Editor: Thank you, I hadn’t quite appreciated the depth until you unpacked it like that. Curator: My pleasure. A close look at visual relationships can really transform one's understanding of a work.