Fairground 2020

Curator: The work before us is titled "Fairground", a 2020 plein-air painting by the contemporary artist Bo Bartlett. Editor: There’s a striking stillness about it. The formal attire against the simple bike, the vast openness of the field – a really interesting dichotomy. Curator: Absolutely, and that contrast sparks intrigue, doesn't it? I find it fascinating how Bartlett positions the man in this almost antiquated dress amidst what we recognize as the fairground, a hub for communal amusement. It feels as if Bartlett is offering a reflection on our changing landscape. The role of leisure, even class. Editor: I agree; formally the layering and depth, or relative lack thereof, lend themselves to a modern sensibility while suggesting the dreamlike sequences of memory. The composition keeps pulling my eyes back to the perfectly circular Ferris wheel in the background, echoing the shape of the bicycle wheels in the foreground, all existing on this horizontal plane. Curator: Indeed! And if you consider that plein-air approach – the artist working on-site, directly responding to the environment. What Bartlett is saying is we can't remove culture from leisure. Editor: Also, how crucial is the color story here? A desaturated palette, a choice that suggests both melancholy and memory… yet something resolute and stoic in his expression, or rather, lack thereof. Curator: The man's posture exudes purpose and his formal attire signifies both social authority and a potential sense of disconnect from the carefree atmosphere, adding depth to how we view contemporary societal roles. It encourages viewers to question our societal framework. Editor: Bo Bartlett has used these deceptively straightforward structures and images to create an artwork where simplicity belies deeper questions and complicated meanings that we see revealed on repeat visits. Curator: And that to me is the fascinating ability of artists to hold a mirror to society's changing role in our day-to-day life and leisure.