Kia 

Editor: Here we have a drawing, it looks like graphite on paper, called "Kia" by Alfred Conteh. The cross-hatching gives a palpable texture, almost sculptural, to the figure's features. I'm particularly drawn to the way Conteh used layering to define the planes of the face. How do you interpret this portrait from a formalist perspective? Curator: Indeed. Notice the sophisticated use of line. The density varies greatly, creating tonal contrasts. The background, seemingly abstract, might be read as a deconstructed plane, pushing the figure forward. Consider how the artist uses line to create depth where the head recedes, and volume on the forward-facing neck. What structural components contribute most to the emotional depth conveyed? Editor: The hair. The sheer volume of tightly packed graphite lines becomes the focal point, doesn't it? It contrasts starkly with the relatively smoother rendering of the skin. The lines around the face and neck direct our gaze back to that crown. The portrait seems almost reverential because of it. Curator: Precisely. Now, observe the negative space. The blankness around the figure allows a separation between subject and what is left undefined around them. The tension resides in that relationship between figure and ground, a play of presence and absence. Would you say that affects our understanding of "Kia"? Editor: Absolutely. The emptiness makes "Kia" appear timeless, suspended. I didn't initially consider the composition as deeply, focusing instead on the face itself. The blank areas draw our attention to Kia's face while highlighting it. I have a deeper understanding now of the way lines can generate form. Thank you! Curator: The dialogue between form and absence reveals as much as what is immediately seen. A valuable exercise to understand Conteh's use of form.