Running Boy with Strange Fingers 1981

Curator: Sandro Chia's "Running Boy with Strange Fingers" presents us with a rather enigmatic figure set against what seems to be a star-filled night sky. Editor: My first impression is one of slight unease, almost gothic; the stark contrasts and the boy's contorted fingers definitely create a sense of the uncanny. Curator: Chia's work often draws on classical mythology and symbolism. The running boy could represent Icarus, perhaps, reaching for something unattainable. Editor: Or perhaps it speaks to something more contemporary—a commentary on the distorted images of youth and body that pervade our media landscape and their political implications? Curator: It's intriguing how the artist uses the night sky—a motif frequently associated with dreams and the subconscious—to frame the boy's actions and amplify the sense of mystery. It evokes a timeless feeling, almost as if the boy’s predicament is part of the human condition. Editor: True, but the title specifically mentions the fingers. It is too easy to ignore the direct references, and I think those strange fingers might be a key to unlocking a more pointed political critique, related to modern notions of ideal youth. Curator: Perhaps Chia aimed for both then, using the symbol of the running boy and its context to speak of desire and political disquiet at once. Editor: It's a compelling ambiguity, giving viewers room to connect with the piece on multiple levels.