Udon II 2017

Curator: Here we have James Jean's "Udon II", completed in 2017. Immediately striking is the artwork's masterful blend of surrealism and figuration, rendered with incredible detail using acrylics. Editor: Wow. It feels… dreamlike, you know? Like a memory, but one where reality bends a little. The blue skin tones, the floral headpiece... it's strangely calming yet unsettling at the same time. Curator: Indeed. Jean often interweaves elements of Orientalism with contemporary portraiture, creating a fascinating dialogue between East and West. The meticulous lines and composition lend it a certain gravitas. Semiotically, the udon itself might symbolize nourishment or the cyclical nature of life. Editor: I love that! To me, it’s almost funny to think of a deity, this otherworldly being, sharing a mundane meal of noodles with her baby. There is an endearing strangeness that invites speculation: perhaps this work celebrates the idea that something magical, something divine can also be totally human. It has a bit of irony that pokes at the heart! Curator: Irony perhaps softened by the overt symbolism; Jean masterfully employs realism amidst the surreal backdrop. Editor: Definitely. Look at that tiny tortoise offering another bowl of noodles; that's simply bizarre. It almost feels like it's out of a Hayao Miyazaki movie; Studio Ghibli but, say, if they made noodles. This whole tableau feels like a visual poem, almost like an Asian folktale I can’t quite recall. Curator: The interplay between pop-surrealism and the delicate realism is definitely part of the artwork's captivating qualities. There are several interpretations, especially because of this contemporary lens Jean provides. The use of symbolism makes this all the more complex and alluring. Editor: Well, I can't look at instant ramen the same way again. Curator: Jean challenges our perspectives and transforms the familiar into something beautifully enigmatic. Editor: True. I’ll hold on to that image, it has changed my mind on art today, definitely.