Untitled 

Curator: The work we’re looking at is an untitled painting by Sonaly Gandhi. It presents a seated figure in a contemplative pose. What strikes you first? Editor: Immediately, it's the application of that bold checkerboard pattern onto the figure. It's jarring yet captivating. It gives me a sense of unease, like something is off. What material was used in creating this interesting work? Curator: It appears to be primarily acrylic paint on canvas. The artist’s usage really places this within a context of modern issues of identity and commodification of the female form. The checkered pattern could represent social constraints imposed on women, segmenting them into prescribed roles or expectations. Editor: That reading is really insightful, especially considering your attention to themes. To me, the process hints at a mechanical reproduction, like stencil art, almost stripping away the subject's individual identity. But that grid is hand painted, it’s irregular, so, some hand work there. How the artist manipulates that medium, the labour invested, makes me reconsider any rapid readings about superficiality. Curator: Indeed, this can connect to debates in feminist theory about how women are perceived – their bodies become objects of consumption. How is agency asserted within these confining structures? I think that tension is palpable. The figure isn’t erased, yet is visibly patterned. Editor: The pattern almost becomes a material itself, a kind of woven textile covering. Is she being commodified, or does this intricate crafting reclaim some ground for female artistry within the means of making? Also I want to note the gray gradient on which the woman stands as if it highlights some industrial manufacturing. What is the context of that gradient? Curator: Perhaps the grayscale evokes a foundation, like an industry the artist places this female identity upon. What do we build when we attempt to apply identities to human beings and attempt to make assumptions about an individual’s personality from their gender. Editor: Interesting interpretation of modern societal constructions that weigh heavy in any such analysis. Curator: Well, on this piece, there are so many valid approaches. It shows just how the context of any work shifts constantly.