All You Need Is Sparkle 2022

Editor: So, this is Joana Choumali's "All You Need Is Sparkle," currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a striking textile piece with a photo transfer. The hanging threads give it such a unique texture. What is your read on this? Curator: I see a powerful commentary on the commodification of childhood and the imposition of globalized cultural norms. The child's t-shirt, emblazoned with a Western phrase, sharply contrasts with the traditional fabric of her skirt, provoking questions about identity and cultural hybridity. Editor: That’s interesting. I was mostly focused on the visual elements. Curator: Consider how Choumali's artistic practice often engages with postcolonial identity and the complexities of representation. How does the layering of media—photography, textile, embroidery—complicate the image? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It makes me see the piece as more than just a portrait. Curator: Exactly. It's an invitation to consider how global forces intersect with individual experience and self-expression. Editor: I'll definitely look at her other work with this in mind. Thanks!