Shoes, Mother's Bliss 2019

Editor: So, this piece is called "Shoes, Mother's Bliss," created in 2019 by Cristiano Tassinari. It appears to be a mixed-media installation, maybe incorporating neon. The luminous glow gives off a striking vibe, yet the subject matter—classic women's dress shoes—seems kind of old-fashioned. What’s your take? Curator: There's an interesting tension at play here, isn't there? The shoes themselves, a recognisable, almost cliché image of femininity. The artist is playing with our expectations and associations. Do those bows remind you of any fairytale, like Cinderella? Editor: I see what you mean! It does feel like it's referencing something beyond just shoes. How does that symbol fit in with the "erotic-art" theme it's tagged with? Curator: Well, shoes have long been connected with both restriction and liberation, hasn't it? And neon, think of its association with city nightlife. Here, I feel like those familiar forms take on another psychological layer, with neon hinting at longing, memories, the charged relationship between private experiences and shared social spaces. What stories are unlocked when personal effects come alive, illuminated and set against a larger public field? Editor: That’s fascinating; the everyday elevated, almost fetishized, by the light. So the material itself – the neon – is doing more than just depicting the object. Curator: Exactly. It asks us to reconsider the power and paradox of the object, the layers of personal identity they assume. The shoes and glow bring a distinct charge that speaks to our inner self. Do you feel that the light draws the viewer into this symbolic field? Editor: I definitely do, like it is trying to trigger a familiar memory or emotion... I see it now; the glow and the shoes take me back to childhood. This piece made me realize how much everyday objects can trigger deeply layered emotions. Curator: It's those connections that linger, demonstrating how artists can subtly tap into the symbolic power that permeates our daily lives and forms our culture.