Honey 

Editor: This is “Honey,” a digital painting by Valentina Remenar. It depicts a man, eyes closed, adorned with bees. I’m struck by its strangeness... those bees seem almost ornamental, but also a bit unsettling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The bees immediately capture my attention. In many cultures, the bee is a potent symbol. They can represent community, hard work, and even immortality. Consider the phrase "busy as a bee"; it speaks to their tireless dedication. But in a more primal sense, bees have a painful sting and often are understood to signal defensiveness. So which "bee" is being communicated here? Editor: So, are you suggesting the bees are less literal and more symbolic? Curator: Precisely! It seems we can explore beyond a mere decorative function here. Notice the man's closed eyes and upturned face; it’s an attitude of receptivity. He’s not fighting the bees; instead, he appears to embrace them, and the title certainly seems to emphasize that embracing. Might this be a modern take on sacrifice, where sweetness requires bearing some pain? Editor: I never thought of it that way! The bees seemed more of an imposition than a welcome addition. But now I see that maybe he is the source of the honey... the hard worker willing to bear the pain. Curator: And this opens up the door to cultural symbols around sacrifice, be it Christian or otherwise. It is important not to take the symbol and image simply as face value. Consider the various cross-cultural values associated. Editor: It’s fascinating how an image can hold so many layers of meaning, from a simple portrait to this exploration of sacrifice and cultural symbolism. Thank you for opening my eyes! Curator: My pleasure. Remembering the layers of visual symbols opens avenues for understanding history and meaning in unique ways.