Pure at Heart 2017

Editor: Here we have Monica Ikegwu’s "Pure at Heart," a striking 2017 painting. What initially grabs me is the stillness, the sort of posed composure of the three figures. It feels very deliberate. What do you make of it? Curator: It's a fascinating piece, isn’t it? It's like the artist is holding a mirror up to society, reflecting not just an image, but an expectation, a projected idea. The "pure" in the title, coupled with their very direct gazes, makes you wonder, pure *to whom*, pure *for what*? And that background, like some digital-age hieroglyphics... What story do *they* tell? Editor: That's interesting - the "pure to whom" aspect. They are dressed in simple white t-shirts, a detail that gives them a sense of innocence but the modern clothing could create tension. Curator: Precisely. Are they vessels for our projections? Notice how the lighting models their faces—there is depth there, yet something still feels withheld. As if to say, "Here we are. See us. *Really* see us." What does that challenge mean to you? Editor: It makes me think about how young Black men are often portrayed in the media. It seems like she’s confronting stereotypes, reclaiming a narrative through this controlled and dignified representation. It also makes me consider their humanity. Curator: Indeed. And in doing so, Ikegwu transforms the painting into a statement, layered with cultural and social critique, whispering untold stories. Perhaps "pure" becomes about untainted potential, a future yet to be written, free from pre-conceived judgments. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thank you. This gave me an important insight to understanding contemporary figurative art! Curator: The pleasure was mine.