Physicists 

Curator: Zaniewski's work, titled "Physicists," seems to offer a peek into a private, intimate world, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, my initial reaction is the tension of this divided space. There's this enclosed, almost suffocating feeling in the red room, juxtaposed with that stark, blue window suggesting something much larger, almost infinite, outside. Curator: It’s fascinating how Zaniewski captures that push and pull, isn't it? We see two figures—one bathed in warm light, absorbed in reading, and the other, a mere silhouette at a desk, confronting this almost aggressively bright window. Considering the title, “Physicists,” could this represent two approaches to grappling with complex concepts? One through established texts, and the other by gazing directly into the unknown? Editor: Possibly, and the medium is crucial here; the oil pastel, maybe even with hints of chalk, gives the entire scene a soft, almost hazy quality. The materiality softens the edges, blending what could be hard, intellectual work into a tangible scene of labor. It domesticates science, somehow. Curator: That domesticating lens is a key part of understanding Zaniewski’s work. This artwork uses this intimate setting to maybe question the role of intellectuals within society and academia. Are they active participants, like the figure at the desk, or detached observers, lost in theory? Editor: Look at the surface itself! It has a raw, unfinished quality that underscores this notion of ongoing intellectual production. This wasn't quickly rendered; the mark-making, the texture – it suggests a gradual layering of ideas. Maybe even struggles. Curator: And isn’t there a subtle challenge in using such a traditional medium—oil pastel—to depict those involved in advanced scientific study? Editor: There’s that tension again. The painting’s grounding within very recognizable traditions—intimism, figurative style and even portraiture – combined with its title seems to challenge viewers. What labor makes scientific study possible, and how can we access that labour visually? Curator: A question that definitely leaves a lot to think about, doesn't it? Editor: It really does. Zaniewski invites us to not just observe but contemplate the unseen elements of thought and discovery.