Love-Me-Not 2018

Daria Theodora made this strange and beautiful painting called 'Love-Me-Not' sometime in the 20th century, and she did it with a light touch. The whole thing feels like a dream, a memory of a memory. I keep thinking about how she laid down those strokes, letting the paint do its thing. See how the colors bleed and blend? It's like she's letting us into her process, showing us the mess and magic of making. I feel like I know what it’s like to be a painter, and I can imagine her standing there, brush in hand, trying to capture something elusive. Maybe it’s about the push and pull of emotions, the sweetness and sadness that life throws our way. I've never seen anything quite like the gold leaf that she used in the piece - it adds a whole other dimension, a touch of decadence against the dreamy melancholy. It’s like she’s saying, "even in sadness, there’s beauty."