Untitled 

Curator: This untitled piece, an oil painting by Sonaly Gandhi, strikes me with its immediate sense of passionate yearning. There's a theatrical quality in how it is constructed with such boldness, so what is your first reaction? Editor: It is vibrant, perhaps due to the strong red, but it also feels somewhat unresolved. There’s a mixture of textures and forms: the smooth skin of the figure against the dog’s fur, and the manufactured glossiness of the gramophone’s horn. I wonder, is that clash of materials intentional? Curator: Indeed. Think about the dog for a moment—faithful, listening, and perhaps longing for a sound only it can truly hear. Then look at the gramophone. Its shape echoes a blooming flower, amplifying a voice that might otherwise be lost. Don't you think that creates a sense of intimacy in the face of passing time? Editor: Interesting, I had initially interpreted it as a critique on mass-produced culture. A commentary about how recorded music is perceived rather than heard, passively received without genuine engagement. Still, those vibrant red florals disrupt a singular narrative. Curator: Flowers have often represented fertility and cycles of renewal, which fits well with the theme of artistic reinvention and the transformative capacity of emotional experience through time. The dog seems a traditional symbol of loyalty. Is it possible that the tension you perceive embodies the complexities of these intertwining layers of interpretation? Editor: Yes, there's a palpable tension. Perhaps the materials are arranged to embody the shift between art produced by humans and its technologically mediated reproduction. The surface is almost theatrical in presentation, as if aware of itself. I am now starting to perceive that there are different levels of interpretation co-existing. Curator: To me, that reflects our journey as viewers. This artwork is a conversation, an invitation to feel and reflect rather than receive a straightforward narrative. Editor: That is quite true. What a clever way to address sound! Curator: It does ask much from the beholder! Thank you, let's turn to the next work.