The Judgement of Paris 1986

Charles Bell made this painting, The Judgement of Paris, and wow, what a story he’s telling! You've got all these different elements mashed together in one seriously playful composition. The surfaces are super smooth, almost like he's airbrushing, and it makes the whole thing feel both real and unreal at the same time. I mean, look at the way the light hits those dolls – it’s so precise, yet the subject matter is so absurd. And the colours? They're so saturated, like the whole thing's been dipped in candy. I’m drawn to the two dogs sitting at the front of the painting. They seem totally unfazed by all the drama unfolding around them, like they’re the only ones who know this is all just a big game. Bell is playing with our ideas of beauty, culture and art history, and the painting reminds me of how much I love Lisa Yuskavage's work, where she’s twisting and turning our expectations of form and subject matter. For Bell, as for Yuskavage, it's all about pushing the boundaries and finding new ways to see the world.