Reflection 1979

Curator: "Reflection," painted in 1979 by Kit Williams, immediately draws the eye with its enigmatic atmosphere. Editor: Yes, it certainly does. It’s striking how dreamlike and still it feels. There’s almost a melancholy emanating from this water scene. Curator: The central motif is a reflection in water – we see a woman’s upside-down visage gazing into the depths of the pool, and above the surface float lilies, leaves, and dragonflies. This inverted reflection technique suggests duality. What we think is solid reality might be, in fact, a reflection, a mere perception of a deeper, perhaps unconscious reality. Editor: And I can't help but note how this image of feminine serenity contrasts with societal expectations placed upon women at the time – a counterpoint to the prevalent social constraints of 1979. Is it commentary on a woman looking within to find strength and independence amidst a limiting world? Curator: A keen point! Williams frequently used nature motifs – water, foliage, flora – as symbols of hidden worlds and introspective journeys. The water lilies, for instance, appearing pure and untouched, are a symbolic link to themes of fertility, transformation and the mystery of life, as the water is transformative as well. Editor: The muted colour palette emphasizes this introspective, somewhat somber quality. But who is this figure reflected? How do we engage with beauty ideals when the body is only presented in reflections or pieces like this, upside down and mysterious? The female figure almost appears as an eco-feminist statement, merging seamlessly into the environment around her. Curator: That’s insightful. Williams uses his symbols consciously to represent his interpretation of the environment and the mind, inviting viewers into deeper states of awareness. There's this sense that you could fall right into this water. Editor: It really underscores art’s capability of making us not just see, but truly reflect, both inward and on the external frameworks dictating what’s considered beautiful or meaningful. Curator: Indeed, and maybe, just maybe, find ourselves mirrored in the depths. Editor: Absolutely, an art that promotes awareness, a dialogue, between the internal self and external world is a political act.