Harmony 2020

Editor: So, this drawing is called "Harmony" by Martine Johanna, created in 2020. It seems to be rendered solely with graphite, and it depicts a young woman holding a frog. The level of detail, especially in the clothing, is remarkable. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Looking at Johanna's "Harmony" through a materialist lens, I'm struck by the artist’s choices and the labor embedded in the process. The work isn’t just about the final image but the repetitive, almost meditative act of applying graphite to paper. Consider how the hatching technique used to render form not only builds tonal value, but also suggests a certain kind of repetitive labour. Does the artist elevate a "simple" drawing process through scale, skill, or subject? How might its status as drawing instead of painting be significant to its cultural reception? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't thought about the repetitive nature of the technique itself being meaningful. I was more focused on the serene expression of the woman and the contrast with the frog. But now, thinking about it...the striped shirt she's wearing; even that involves repeated lines! Curator: Precisely! It raises questions about the intersection of "high" art and what some might dismiss as mere "craft." By foregrounding these meticulous processes, Johanna prompts us to re-evaluate those distinctions and to value the artist’s labor. We also must acknowledge the source and mining of graphite, a resource often acquired through exploited labor conditions and harmful ecologies. Considering all this, where do your thoughts lie now? Editor: This definitely gives me a new appreciation for not just what is represented, but *how* it was made and at what cost. Thank you for helping me consider the artwork this way! Curator: My pleasure! Always consider the artist's conscious decision-making around materials, labour, and context. It unveils richer meanings within even the seemingly simplest of images.