Money on the Mind 2017

Curator: Monica Ikegwu created this artwork entitled, "Money on the Mind," in 2017. What's your initial reaction? Editor: It’s striking. There's such a contrast between the two figures – one consumed by digital information, the other physically grasping wealth. It feels like a commentary on modern priorities. I am drawn to the details of the clothing; those shades and folds! What materials did she use to render them so masterfully? Curator: Knowing Ikegwu's background, it’s hard not to see it as a statement on access and labor in the digital age. The girl, with what appears to be a cardiogram on her phone, might be representative of our obsession with social media. While the figure counting cash reflects capital gain at any cost. The visual representation may indicate a reliance on certain technologies while the labor could speak of those less inclined to do so, leading to unequal access. Editor: Access is the key. And I wonder what materials and methods informed that vision. It would be revealing to learn more about her technical approaches. Looking closer, the execution makes it seem very painterly; almost as if traditional portraiture clashes with modern digital dependency. What social discourse on value does Ikegwu evoke using those portraits, the money, and the smartphone? Curator: It raises questions about the structures that perpetuate these inequalities, no doubt. It critiques the systems, policies, and beliefs that allow some to accumulate wealth, like the man in the portrait, while others are caught in the grind of contemporary times or are relegated to consumerism by holding their ever present and often times overused smartphones. I find it poignant how she's capturing a particular tension within a very specific socio-economic bracket in contemporary society. The portraits are meant to serve as a modern warning. Editor: A warning echoed in the texture of the paint itself! Knowing her chosen process deepens that connection; how does it add another layer of meaning, highlighting the art of producing or not producing? Curator: Definitely food for thought on the societal impact. Editor: Yes, I leave more curious about the implications and intent than before, thanks.