Illusion of Freedom 2020

Curator: Michael Cheval’s "Illusion of Freedom," created in 2020 using oil paint, strikes me with its curious combination of portraiture, surrealism, and allegory. Editor: My first thought is how the woman's expression seems to reflect an intentional obscuring, not just literally with that cloud-shaped object, but more generally as a symbol of social blindness and obfuscation. Curator: Yes, there is a veiling at play. Cheval’s consistent use of disguise is a critical motif. The masks, mirrors, and other deceptive objects in his works prompt viewers to think about how much of what we perceive is truth, and how much is artifice. Editor: And that's especially resonant given how, stylistically, she evokes Marie Antoinette but holds what looks like a child’s party favor. It disrupts our sense of time and societal norms. This immediately frames the painting for me with a sense of socio-economic critique. Who is afforded the luxury of this staged performance? Curator: Consider, too, the pocket watch—a memento mori, reminding us of the passage of time, yes, but also suggesting cycles of history and recurring patterns of societal behavior. In this piece, as elsewhere, time is both linear and cyclical. And do note how he paints in an almost photographic realistic mode. It is meant to read as both hyper-realistic, yet also surreal. Editor: Absolutely. I keep coming back to the small bird resting on her palm. The act of 'containing' life. She isn't exactly hurting it. The gilded cage of privilege and the captivity of others? It is disturbing to behold. This reminds me of the social performance demanded of women in particular in that era. Curator: The cloud-shaped disguise she is holding. A potent symbol for cognitive dissonance. The deliberate filtering of reality. And she is staring right at the viewer, engaging us as both witness, but maybe, as participant as well? Editor: That piercing stare invites us into her reality, complicit or not. Curator: This work continues to intrigue, suggesting complex commentary about social and political awareness. Editor: A reminder, perhaps, of how power perpetuates itself through image and perception.