A+D 2018

James Jean's painting "A+D" emerges like a dreamscape pieced together with delicate lines and a muted, yet vibrant, color palette. I can almost feel the artist building up layers of luminous glazes, each stroke a tender exploration. There’s this figure, a kind of tree-being, covered in what looks like delicate tattoos. What were you thinking, James, as you marked its skin with these strange symbols? How did you manage to make it look like both flesh and bark? The kids are like figures from a fairy tale; they are both offering and taking away. This painting reminds me of Paula Rego’s narrative ambiguity, and maybe something of Yoshitomo Nara’s melancholic cuteness. Like them, James makes images that are both beautiful and a little bit disturbing. It's a reminder that every artist is in conversation with those who came before, transmuting their influences into something entirely new.