Untitled 2021

Editor: This is "Untitled," an etching created in 2021 by EtchingRoom1. The black and white linework gives it a cool, almost graphic novel vibe, but the figure in the center has this imposing, almost sinister presence. What do you make of this piece? Curator: I think that "sinister" feeling is key. Consider the figure's obscured face, the gloves, the way it looms. We're used to seeing figures like this in positions of power – authority figures who conceal themselves, right? How does this imagery interact with the setting? What power dynamic is suggested in this somewhat domestic interior? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn’t considered the "authority figure" aspect, but the setting... the turntable, the records... almost a caricature of a certain kind of masculine space. Is the artist critiquing something specific here? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe holding space for a deeper investigation of identity, or identities. We see art, music... the objects we surround ourselves with contribute to our personas, the ones we cultivate and those projected onto us. But, the linework and the comic strip style...what’s happening there? Do these aspects defuse, heighten, or complicate the "sinister" feeling? Editor: I see what you mean. The cartoonish elements almost soften it, but the heavy lines keep it unsettling. It's like a funhouse mirror reflection of masculinity, making you question the underlying performance. Curator: Exactly! The piece uses familiar imagery – both visual and cultural – to prompt questions about performance, authority, and the narratives we construct around ourselves. It is an investigation into these constructions and how we may adopt, refuse, and reflect these concepts of authority. Editor: This has given me a totally new way of looking at it. I was too focused on the surface-level mood, and not on what the image might be trying to say about cultural roles. Curator: And hopefully, it’s demonstrated how a single image can reflect larger societal tensions.