Self Portrait 2016

Curator: Alejandro Cabeza’s 2016 “Self Portrait,” rendered in oil paint, offers a compelling glimpse into the artist's identity and practice. What's your initial take on this piece? Editor: It’s striking how traditional it feels. Almost an old-world aesthetic— the dark palette, the somewhat formal attire. Yet there’s also a vulnerability; the direct gaze isn't defiant, more… contemplative. Curator: Indeed. Cabeza works within a lineage of self-portraiture, a genre steeped in history. Think of Rembrandt or Van Gogh; artists using their own image to explore themes of identity and artistic skill. Editor: Exactly, but I wonder about the contemporary angle here. What does it mean to engage with realism today? This isn't just technical skill on display; it's a conscious choice. There are contemporary ideas about identity that might resonate in this image if we were to interpret through that lens. The artist’s look— glasses and a flat cap— perhaps hint at a deliberate construction of self. Curator: That's an interesting point. He presents himself in a very specific way, adopting familiar tropes and updating them for today's context. Editor: There's definitely an element of performance involved, the way he chooses to frame himself through the gaze, glasses and cap as a persona, inviting us to think about not only the image as his personal likeness but also its inherent relationship with the ideas of self and subjectivity. Curator: What is interesting to consider is Cabeza's role as an artist operating in a complex socio-political environment. His portraits can be read as assertions of visibility and a statement against marginalization and this is visible also when observing this Self-Portrait. Editor: The way he positions himself also speaks about resilience. Perhaps he aims to reclaim the narrative of marginalized figures in the face of cultural homogenization. I do admire how this painting generates discussions around representation and the act of seeing, encouraging dialogue and potentially leading to more awareness and solidarity. Curator: A thoughtful reflection, indeed. “Self-Portrait" compels us to examine not only the individual depicted but also the broader art historical and societal frameworks that shape our perception. Editor: Absolutely, and for me, its power lies in prompting reflection about ourselves in the current context where images flood the world. It urges us to recognize our roles in the intricate dance of meaning-making within contemporary society.