Aesop 2018

Editor: So, this is Eckart Hahn’s painting "Aesop," created in 2018, using acrylic on canvas. It has this very dreamlike quality with the stark contrast between the crane and panther figures. What do you see in this piece, with its almost stage-like setup? Curator: What strikes me is how Hahn utilizes animal symbolism in a strikingly modern context. The figures are like archetypes plucked from ancient fables, yet placed in this minimal, almost sterile setting. The panther, traditionally a symbol of courage and strength, is precariously balanced. Does it remind you of any particular traditional stories, perhaps cautionary tales? Editor: It definitely evokes the idea of balance, like a high-wire act, and the potential for things to topple over. I’m also curious about the ropes…red and blue. Are they purely compositional elements or do they suggest something deeper? Curator: Colors, in this context, can act as powerful signifiers. Red can be passion, danger, while blue can symbolize intellect or the divine. The ropes appear to suspend both the panther and perhaps the very narrative itself. This, I believe, reflects the fragmented nature of modern storytelling and how meaning is constantly in flux. The background tonalities add to a surreal almost antiquated backdrop. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn’t considered the ropes as representing the threads of narrative. Curator: Think of Aesop’s fables themselves – simple stories carrying complex truths. Hahn’s painting plays on that tradition, offering us potent images that resonate on both a conscious and subconscious level. It makes me wonder, what contemporary “fables” are being created now, and what symbols define our era? Editor: This really changed my perception of the piece. It’s much more than just a pretty, surreal image. I see layers of cultural references now, inviting contemplation. Curator: Indeed. It encourages us to look beyond the surface and to find resonance between ancient wisdom and contemporary experience.