Ésser del Cap 1978

Editor: This is "Ésser del Cap," from 1978, a mixed-media piece incorporating drawing and acrylic paint by Joan Ponç. I find myself really drawn to the striking, almost unsettling contrast between the two halves of the face. What do you see in this work that speaks to its historical moment or Ponç's artistic vision? Curator: Considering the socio-political landscape of Spain in the late 70s, with the transition from Franco's dictatorship, works like this reflected anxieties about identity and the future. Notice the fractured composition, perhaps a visual metaphor for the dismantling of old structures. How does Ponç’s use of mixed media and vibrant color affect your understanding of its historical relevance? Editor: I guess it gives it a sense of both destruction and rebirth at the same time. Like, he's using traditional portraiture, but then radically distorting it with these wild colours and strange linear structures. Curator: Exactly. We see a clear break from traditional portraiture. Ponç was affiliated with the Dau al Set movement, resisting Franco's regime with its Catalan identity; you can notice surrealist and expressionist elements throughout. That dominant, almost Cyclopean red eye stares out at us, a bold, somewhat rebellious visual statement about identity during a period of political change. Does that reframe your interpretation? Editor: Absolutely! The single eye feels much more confrontational now, like it's not just a portrait but a commentary on societal observation and change. I initially saw just the contrast of styles. Curator: It underscores the importance of understanding art as intertwined with political discourse and cultural revolution. Editor: It’s fascinating to see how Ponç used this visual language to represent such complex political shifts! It gives the piece another layer. Curator: Indeed. Studying the artwork is an interrogation of visual power, cultural norms, and historical forces.