Fireworks 2018

Curator: Here we have James Jean's "Fireworks," created in 2018. The work is composed with acrylic paint and stands as a potent example of contemporary surrealism. Editor: Wow, what a trip. The composition feels like tumbling headfirst into a flower garden dreamed up by a child, slightly unnerving with the way the children’s eyes reflect, mirroring the stars they carry. Curator: Jean is quite interesting. His works delve into very complex cultural narratives, blending mythology, art history, and contemporary pop culture in a very compelling visual language. You'll see here, in "Fireworks," the blend is representative of how we often project fantasy and imagination onto the world, specifically through childhood lenses. Editor: It’s fascinating how he uses the smoothness of acrylic to render the children in near-monochrome, stark contrast to the kaleidoscopic garden. Look closely, and you see a ton of texture applied with such precision and the layers that evoke traditional scroll paintings, combined with imagery that could be straight out of manga. Curator: Indeed. And the narrative—or the lack thereof—mirrors much of the contemporary experience where we're inundated with information, images, lacking singular narratives, a rejection of academic history paintings, and embrace the digital world. Editor: So it is less about any overt symbolism and more about creating a space for individual narratives. I imagine the physical process involves so much layering. Acrylics can be unforgiving; it demands a high degree of control. I can feel his skill at blending textures. It is quite impactful. Curator: Precisely. It's art that responds to a visually oversaturated culture by creating a space of rich, imaginative contemplation, mirroring our cultural obsession with youth. Editor: Seeing Jean's manipulation of medium gives a whole new perspective on what paintings mean today, something truly fresh amidst much traditional practice. Curator: I agree; Jean offers a contemporary narrative—rejecting what is considered 'fine art,' engaging popular culture while pushing medium boundaries that force dialogue regarding today's landscape of art, and consumerism of media, as well as challenging its very notion of the ‘role of art’. Editor: I am utterly seduced. What a bold commentary spun through color, form, and making.