Between the Two my Heart is Balanced 1991

Curator: Lubaina Himid's large-scale painting, "Between the Two my Heart is Balanced," presents us with two figures on a boat, seemingly adrift at sea. Editor: The rawness of the brushstrokes really strikes me, and the materiality of the paint itself adds a layer of depth to the subjects. Curator: Himid's use of bold colors and abstracted forms suggests a powerful symbolism at play; their garments read almost as maps. Editor: I'm especially drawn to how the checkered pattern contrasts with the block of color between them, perhaps hinting at shifting perspectives. What do you make of the layering of colors in this piece? Curator: I see it as a powerful metaphor for the complexities of identity and belonging, perhaps alluding to a liminal space between cultures. Editor: The visible, almost aggressive brushwork speaks volumes about the labor involved in its creation, and disrupts any sense of clean finish. Curator: Exactly, there's a tension here that invites us to contemplate the deeper currents beneath the surface. Editor: I’m leaving this piece intrigued by the artist’s choices of medium and texture. Curator: And I am left pondering the historical narratives that shimmer just beneath the surface of the work.