Broken Hearts 2019

Editor: Here we have Monica Ikegwu's 2019 oil painting, "Broken Hearts." It's a striking, realist portrait. The most peculiar detail is the broken heart symbol etched near the subject's ear. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the materials themselves, the smooth gradations achieved with oil paint, and the very contemporary trend of using bodies as sites of inscription and branding, be that through haircuts or tattoos. Notice how the artist contrasts the smooth skin with the raw, unfinished background, blurring the line between the represented body and its support structure. Do you think the 'broken heart' adds value, literally and figuratively, or perhaps challenges notions of value and labor itself? Editor: That's a fascinating point! I hadn't considered the background as actively contributing to the meaning. The stark contrast between the realism of the portrait and that roughness makes me see how consumption is inherent here: a smooth commodified subject is displayed on a "raw," unfinished support. It looks both "high end" and handmade. It feels very intentional. Curator: Precisely. It asks us to question what labor went into making this artwork and what statement the author is making in the current socioeconomic environment. Perhaps she aims to democratize portraiture by revealing the artistic process itself. Editor: So it challenges traditional power structures of labor division that exist in art production. Wow! I'm so glad you pointed that out. I will have to look for this in other figurative art. Curator: Glad to open your eyes. Considering artwork in such ways always challenges my perspective.