Clementia 2018

Editor: Right now we’re looking at Allison Reimold’s 2018 acrylic painting, "Clementia." It strikes me as both elegant and slightly unsettling. The figure is classically composed, but the honeycomb replacing her hair introduces such an unexpected twist. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, that's exactly where the magic is, isn't it? That friction between beauty and… something else. Reimold pulls you in with the realism of the face, and then bam! Honeycomb headpiece, dripping sweetness – and bees! It's like a dream where everything's familiar but rearranged by a mischievous subconscious. Don’t you feel a sense of both attraction and slight unease? It’s beautiful, and more than a little… strange. Editor: I see what you mean. It reminds me a little of Surrealism and its emphasis on the bizarre, which this clearly nods to. Do you see symbolic value to the honey or the bees? Curator: Absolutely! Honey, historically, has been linked to prosperity and fertility. The bees, too, represent industry, community, and maybe even a bit of sting! Perhaps Reimold is reflecting on society's sweet veneer, while hinting at the constant hard work – the buzzing, even the potential for a sting – that keeps everything functioning. The single white flower almost whispers of resilience or even fragile hope. Isn’t that what you were pondering? Editor: That makes sense. It’s much more complex than just a pretty portrait with unusual adornments! It layers ideas about industry, the sweet things we appreciate and the darker potential just under the surface. Curator: Precisely. It seems like Reimold isn’t just painting a portrait; she's painting a state of mind, a commentary – with a generous dollop of honey. What a feast! Editor: Definitely a feast! It’s prompted a real swarm of new ways to see and think about things. Thank you.