Untitled 2018

Curator: Looking at Kinder Album's "Untitled" piece from 2018, I'm struck by the vibrant, almost childlike quality of the rendering. Editor: Yes, it certainly possesses an immediacy and rawness in its making. I'm interested in the artist’s deliberate use of what seems to be a combination of drawing and acrylic. The interplay between the drawn line and blocks of vivid colour generates a fascinating tension in the composition. Is this artist questioning traditional hierarchical modes? Curator: That's an astute observation. I think part of the piece’s intrigue lies in its subversion of typical landscape depictions. We have a figuration nestled amongst the trees, seemingly unconcerned by the viewer's gaze. Considering its style, one can assume the work offers an intimate portrayal, as much as a comment on broader themes like nature versus humanity and maybe questioning social constraints surrounding the body. Editor: I'm wondering if it's an ironic twist on erotic art, a comment on the way art institutions have historically displayed and commodified the body. The choice of the wooded setting and deliberately crude style are compelling! I am wondering why the figure has a hiking boot, and why is she hiding? What is the artist doing here? Is it a commentary on nature? Curator: That's a crucial question! I suspect the work intentionally blends genres, juxtaposing naturalistic elements with explicit subject matter and a crude or naive, if you want, handling of materials. The social message in itself appears as an act of protest against rigid moral systems or any traditional canons related to beauty, style, gender roles and art history. Editor: So you’re saying the "amateur" qualities can offer subversive content against conventions? I hadn’t quite viewed it like that, but that perspective really adds another layer to the work! Curator: Precisely. What appeared almost childlike at first glance opens to deeper scrutiny and makes for powerful contemporary commentary. Editor: Thank you!