Untitled 

Editor: Here we have an untitled watercolor painting by Dominique Appia. The composition depicts a door, centered in the frame, and it strikes me as a strangely intimate scene, despite the stark presentation. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The peeling paint on the wall speaks volumes. It contrasts sharply with the newness of the door. The tension suggests the artist is subtly highlighting social inequalities or perhaps even decay in institutions. Notice the tile floor too. How does that contrast with the wall? Editor: That’s interesting! I hadn’t thought about the contrast being deliberate commentary. The floor *is* fairly well-maintained compared to the walls. Is there perhaps a kind of "upward mobility" symbolism there? Curator: Possibly. Look at where museums were going in the late 20th century. Who was and wasn't given access? It is also worth considering the location and purpose of a door within a given social hierarchy. Who decides what's on the other side? Editor: That makes me wonder about the little frog down by the floor! Maybe it’s trying to figure out a way *through* the door, literally from the ground up. Curator: Precisely! Consider the use of such an animal—its symbolism in fairy tales as royalty in disguise... it begs the question, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely! This painting gives me a lot to consider about access, privilege, and even fairytales in our understanding of institutional spaces. Curator: Indeed. The beauty of art is that it reflects and refracts our social realities, if we dare to examine it with critical awareness.