Superman Has Feelings Too 

Curator: Here we have Tania Rivilis' oil painting, "Superman Has Feelings Too." The canvas is dominated by the red and blue. What's your first impression? Editor: Brooding, definitely. The dark tones of his skin contrast dramatically with the bright background. It is all about mood. There is an overwhelming feel of thoughtful melancholy here. Curator: It strikes me as a commentary on contemporary masculinity. This neo-expressionist style, with its raw brushstrokes, challenges the idea of invulnerability often associated with figures like Superman. Editor: True. And the materials she employs—the thick, visible oil paint—reinforces this notion. You see the process, the labor. This isn’t some smooth, polished image. The physicality of the paint itself expresses a vulnerability. We should notice here also the subject matter choice of portraiture. It reflects both our modern, individualized focus while referencing centuries of Western art making traditions. Curator: Absolutely. Rivilis seems interested in the breakdown of traditional narratives. She is interested in making visible labor by leaving strokes visible. Consider the gentle way he holds the small bouquet of baby's breath flowers, as well. It is such a stark contrast to any notion of physical or emotional power. This juxtaposition adds depth and, perhaps, critique. Editor: Those delicate white flowers also provide a point of pure aesthetic focus amid that raw red and almost clashing azure. Semiotically speaking, the composition here is drawing you in. We could see the flowers here symbolizing innocence and the tension of emotional burden in adulthood, something a formal analysis highlights readily. The work creates dissonance. Curator: And there is definitely something appealing in the discomfort! Her use of color palette creates mood too: there is much raw color being manipulated. You can imagine Rivilis confronting the limitations of representation. She seems to want the viewer to consider what it is to 'perform' manhood within the frameworks of social expectation and artistic production. Editor: So, a deeply felt comment on male fragility couched in thick paint, complex construction of the surface and engaging use of colour and symbol. Curator: Exactly. An open invitation, perhaps, to expand the narrative around masculinity.