Silence Drenches Our Lips 

Curator: Let’s discuss “Silence Drenches Our Lips,” a compelling piece by Soey Milk executed in acrylic paint. At first glance, what impressions does this artwork evoke? Editor: Well, immediately, there’s a sense of fragility, wouldn't you say? The limited palette draws me to focus on the hands, on what’s being presented to us as if an offering. Curator: It certainly resonates with ideas of vulnerability and performance. Soey Milk frequently delves into representing femininity and constructed identity. Notice how the fragmented facial features challenge notions of a unified self, echoed in feminist theory about dismantling the patriarchal gaze. Editor: And it also literally depicts fragmentation. We can't ignore how the use of acrylics creates this contrast against the very smooth skin tone, making them very palpable, and further focusing on how they are being used as a device. Curator: Indeed, the hands could symbolize agency but also the limitations placed upon women, perhaps indicative of societal pressures to conform or perform silence. It could be an assertion of holding something precious or conversely, covering something unwanted. It really hinges on one's lived experiences, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Yes, absolutely. The artist’s touch is so crucial. It is that tension that holds the viewer, I would agree with your insight there. How materials shape meaning. We also get this play in materials with some golden adornments within a dark plane—almost an invitation to consume luxury. Curator: The fractured geometric elements create an interesting dialogue with the organic lines of the floral patterns and the hands. Are we seeing an expression of beauty being shattered and put back together through a different, almost defiant lens? The possibilities of interpreting through one’s gender identity and their intersectionality is key. Editor: Well said. Examining the art’s form allows us to grasp at a sense of material and metaphorical making or breaking, almost as much as silence, which creates the whole experience. It allows the artwork's elements to reverberate long after viewing. Curator: Thank you. Looking at “Silence Drenches Our Lips”, we not only question identity and representation, but also engage in conversation on who defines those stories, the importance of resisting oppressive silences in a very delicate dance, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Most definitely. By emphasizing its materiality and the making, and bringing attention to the performance behind these materials and techniques, we are able to extract a nuanced perspective that otherwise we wouldn't see.