Etching on her Heart 2019

Jana Brike made ‘Etching on her Heart,’ and it’s a painting that lives in the dreamy space between worlds. The airbrush-like blending gives it a surreal quality, like memory itself. It’s got that slightly-too-perfect quality that makes you question what’s real. The colours are soft, almost pastel, but with a subtle intensity. Look at the way the red of her lips and the unicorn’s horn pop against the muted blues and greens. The surface is smooth, obscuring the process, which adds to the otherworldly feel. But then, there are those tiny details, like the marks on her skin – are they scratches, scars, or something else entirely? It's these ambiguities that draw me in. The way she cradles the unicorn… it reminds me of Paula Rego, who also explored complex emotions through figurative painting, creating a space where vulnerability and strength coexist. Ultimately, the power lies in its refusal to be pinned down.