Smoldering Stars 2021

Editor: So, here we have "Smoldering Stars" by Joshua Flint, created in 2021, an oil painting depicting a gathering of blurred figures around what seems to be a magical fountain. It's incredibly mysterious; a touch unsettling even. What do you make of it? Curator: Unsettling, yes, a beautiful unease hangs in the air, doesn't it? It reminds me of those half-remembered dreams, where faces fade and the air crackles with untold secrets. I see a ritual of sorts. A coven? Maybe a board meeting, a rather sinister one. Look at those star-like sparks erupting, so controlled, so… corporate! Editor: Corporate? That’s an interesting take. I was leaning more towards some otherworldly encounter because of the faceless figures. But maybe that's part of the unease? Curator: Exactly! Aren't corporations otherworldly now? Untouchable figures pulling strings. Flint is, perhaps, showing us how even the most mundane settings can be ripe with hidden enchantments, both beautiful and frightening. Are these stars illuminating or obscuring something? Editor: It's like he’s holding a mirror up to modern society. Making us question what lies beneath the surface, what is obfuscated by power structures. Curator: Or maybe he’s just playing a game, dangling this bizarre scenario before us. Is there something concrete to learn, or a surreal game of telephone we will never decipher the starting word for. Beautiful ambiguity! Editor: So, more questions than answers. That makes the work all the more powerful, doesn't it? I never considered corporations having surreal symbolism; It provides a unique, contemporary context to the painting. Curator: Absolutely! It is the power of good art; challenging you, reshaping your perspectives, smoldering thoughts rather than absolute conclusions.