Diaspora 2016

Bo Bartlett made this oil painting called 'Diaspora,' sometime around now. What strikes me first is the smooth, almost polished surface, built up from many layers of thin, luminous color. There's a stillness here, a feeling of suspended animation. Look closely at the fire, how it licks upwards in a bright, unnatural curve. The paint is thinned and translucent, creating a sense of otherworldly energy. The figures are rendered with a precise, almost photographic realism, yet they inhabit a dreamlike space. It's like a stage set. This reminds me of the work of Odd Nerdrum, who similarly combines classical technique with surreal, unsettling imagery. Both artists embrace ambiguity, inviting us to project our own stories and interpretations onto the canvas. Art is an exchange, a space of possibility, where meaning is never fixed, but always in motion.