Dominion 2016

Curator: Bo Bartlett's "Dominion," painted in 2016, presents us with a powerful and unsettling image. Editor: The scale is initially what strikes me. The bear looms, almost filling the canvas, emphasizing its monumentality. The composition feels precarious, that small iceberg and the vast expanse of sky above lending a kind of isolated drama. Curator: The painting echoes Romanticism in its presentation of nature's overwhelming power, specifically through this polar bear seemingly stranded on a melting iceberg. Note how the animal, often seen as a symbol of arctic strength, is here rendered vulnerable, perhaps even aggressive out of desperation. Editor: Precisely, and the color palette supports this reading. The muted blues and grays of the sky and water create a somber atmosphere. Look at the tonal shifts in the iceberg's white, how it is contrasted with the slight yellow ochre that tints the bear's fur. The light models volume, yes, but more importantly creates symbolic and visual drama, and underscores the palpable sense of threat, almost a challenge, from the animal. Curator: This reminds me of the cultural significance of the polar bear in indigenous Arctic cultures, where it’s a powerful symbol of resilience and survival, connected to shamanistic beliefs. This representation complicates the historical image we inherited and perhaps challenges us to consider what dominance truly means in an era of ecological crisis. Editor: I see that—I like how the artist plays with formal elements to instill such complex socio-cultural associations. Even the brushwork itself; loose in the sky, more tightly rendered in the bear. This variation allows Bartlett to contrast areas, enhancing the realism and underlying the narrative. It’s simple, yet effective. Curator: Yes, the realism serves to heighten the emotional impact; the symbolic weight connects to anxieties about the environment. This work creates a resonant experience that prompts reflection on the present and the future. Editor: Absolutely, "Dominion" visually encapsulates a significant shift in our understanding of the world. Looking closely, it speaks through line and shade, through symbolic color and skillful rendering.