Je dis 

Editor: So this is Adrien Dax's "Je dis," it looks like a mixed-media drawing with ink and watercolor on paper. There’s this dark central shape with lighter, almost golden figures inside, surrounded by what looks like handwritten text. It feels very chaotic and dreamlike to me. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to the juxtaposition of the controlled script and the wild, almost explosive central image. The contrast speaks to the tension between reason and the subconscious, which was a key theme for Surrealists. Consider the social climate after World War I, where traditional values were shattered. Automatism, like the ink splatters here, became a way to bypass societal constraints and explore the unfiltered self. How might this resonate with Dax’s identity and experiences? Editor: That’s a good point! I didn't immediately link it to the socio-political background. So the “I say…” of the title might be a rebellious expression of individual truth against societal norms? Curator: Exactly! Dax was working in a time where there were heightened concerns about the importance of freedom of expression and identity in a world reshaped by conflicts and changing social expectations. Looking at the marks – are they figures? landscapes? – remember that the intention wasn't to represent reality, but to liberate thought and break from traditional representation. Does knowing this influence your feeling about the mood you described? Editor: Definitely. Knowing the history makes the chaos feel less random, and more like a deliberate act of defiance and self-discovery. Curator: Precisely. Art gives us insights into political events of the past but it can offer profound contemporary insight into events taking place in real time. Editor: This piece now has much more depth for me! Thanks for bringing in the cultural and social context.