Essence 

Editor: "Essence" by Kun Wang appears to be a digital figurative portrait of a woman. There's a real stillness and intimacy to it. How do you see its form contributing to this feeling? Curator: I would concur with your observations on the stillness, and to go a step further, I would say that this portrait, rendered with possible use of oil pastels, employs an interesting tonal range that impacts one's perception. Note the artist's almost exclusive reliance on intermediate hues, eschewing more vibrant colors that might detract from this contemplative state. How does this impact the overall composition, in your opinion? Editor: It seems like it pushes the figure forward in a very soft way. If the tones were different it would maybe be jarring. Does the artist's choice to focus on the back of the figure contribute to a more objective reading of the work, or the contrary? Curator: The posterior presentation of the subject serves a pivotal function. The semiotics of posture implies much and reveals little, therefore imbuing the subject with universality rather than specificity, making her a representative figure rather than a concrete person. Now, note the fall of drapery to the lower left quadrant: What do you make of that specific juxtaposition against the neutral darkness from which our subject arises? Editor: I see how the draped fabric contrasts in texture with the woman's skin, offering some visual richness without disrupting the softness of the piece overall. The way the headscarf is falling has a very similar effect too, keeping things interesting without overpowering the mood. Thanks, that gave me a new way of viewing it. Curator: Indeed, I think we have both benefitted from examining this image closely, looking for the formal elements that produce an aesthetic response.