L'amant cachalot 1990

Editor: Here we have Huguette Arthur Bertrand's "L'amant cachalot," created in 1990. It seems to be composed of sweeping watercolour or maybe acrylic washes in earth tones, punctuated by a striking black form. It gives off a feeling of movement, almost like something underwater. What are your thoughts when you look at it? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the title, “The Sperm Whale Lover.” How intriguing! Given the period, it’s impossible to ignore the psychological weight that whales carried during the late 20th century. Beyond their majestic presence in the ocean, they also represent vulnerability and environmental anxieties. The flowing forms, especially that powerful black stroke, suggest a hidden, perhaps turbulent, relationship. What does the dark form evoke for you? Editor: It makes me think of a whale breaching the surface, but also maybe a shadow, something unknown. The lighter washes could be the ocean surrounding it? Curator: Precisely! Consider how cultures have historically depicted marine creatures: sometimes as monstrous threats, other times as benevolent guides. This tension seems to be at play here. The ‘lover’ in the title also opens the possibility for the whale as a symbol of deep, perhaps forbidden, passions and the human connection with the natural world. Do you see the white lines cutting across as disruptive or clarifying? Editor: I think they add to the sense of movement but also create a kind of visual barrier. Maybe a symbol of the challenges of that connection? Curator: An insightful observation. Perhaps this artwork encourages us to contemplate our complex relationship with nature, seen through the lens of love, fear, and ecological responsibility. It definitely lingers in the memory! Editor: Definitely something to consider on my next visit to the ocean.