A nurturing touch with a deadly kiss 2021

Curator: Here we have Camilla d’Errico’s arresting piece, "A nurturing touch with a deadly kiss," created in 2021, and executed in acrylic paint. What's your initial reaction? Editor: Okay, immediate thoughts? Unease mixed with…gentleness? That vivid green and those massive red eyes – slightly unsettling, yet the soft embrace gives off a protective vibe. Curator: I think that uneasy feeling arises from the tensions within d'Errico’s work. We see a juxtaposition of traditionally cute elements rendered in a pop-surrealist style. This subverts traditional power dynamics in artistic representation, specifically those regarding femininity and vulnerability. Editor: True! It’s like a fairytale gone sideways. The crown of butterflies hints at some forest nymph, and then you notice she’s part reptile? Her embrace isn’t so cuddly after all. A bit dangerous… I dig it. Curator: And it makes you consider where that danger lies, right? Is it in the girl's strangeness, her altered form, or is the potential threat originating elsewhere, imposed upon her, thus her need to be fiercely protective? I think d’Errico explores how societal beauty ideals place pressure on marginalized identities. Editor: Absolutely, it’s the gaze isn't it? The girl’s, ours... It’s definitely a reciprocal tension! The glossy finish almost transforms her skin to plastic - quite provocative. It really grabs you by the eyeballs and demands a second look. It doesn't feel good or bad - only questioning. Curator: I agree completely! What is initially read as beautiful is layered with symbolism that disrupts stereotypical characterizations by offering a glimpse into inner turmoil. Editor: Agreed. I entered with trepidation, but am leaving on the edge of intrigue. This painting feels strangely…urgent, a quiet cry in technicolor.