Suite 

Editor: Margareta Sterian’s "Suite," is an interesting example of watercolours. It strikes me as both festive and surreal, with a sense of hidden symbolism within its figures. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This work is a fascinating entry point into Sterian's exploration of the personal and the political. Given that we lack the artwork's exact date, let's think about her broader oeuvre. Sterian, working in a socio-political landscape undergoing intense ideological shifts, utilizes figuration to reflect lived experiences. Does the application of watercolours bring anything in particular to your mind? Editor: It feels dreamlike and ethereal... almost fragile. Curator: Exactly! Think about that fragility and connect it with the sociopolitical. The diaphanous watercolor technique, then, becomes a quiet act of resistance. Sterian uses this to soften the rigid structures being imposed, allowing for a nuanced commentary. The dreamlike quality also opens space for diverse interpretations. We might ask: who are these figures? And what narratives are they acting out? Editor: So, is she almost subverting expectations of what art "should" be doing, by working so subtly? Curator: Precisely. This artwork subtly resists dominant modes of expression and control. Do you think Sterian may have intended viewers to come away with more questions than answers, thereby sparking their own interrogations? Editor: I think so! I appreciate seeing how what at first glance appears fairytale-like holds all this complexity. Curator: Absolutely, and I find it so pertinent to how women at the time were negotiating for spaces within rigid, pre-established frameworks. Editor: This has definitely encouraged me to think beyond the surface appearance and delve into possible deeper narratives about identity and culture embedded in the artwork! Curator: I think that's a successful way to summarise Sterian's achievement here, bringing into light both her unique vision and positionality.