Haven-Me Myself and I 2021

Curator: This striking piece, titled "Haven-Me Myself and I," was created by Camilla d'Errico in 2021 using acrylic paint. It definitely pulls you in, doesn’t it? Editor: Immediately! It's an arresting image. The color palette, a wash of grayscale figures set against this swirling rainbow pool, it's unexpectedly melancholic yet vibrant. There’s an intriguing tension between those elements. Curator: That contrast is very characteristic of the pop-surrealist style which d'Errico works within. Consider how she borrows from the visual language of manga and graphic novels—creating a world of accessible but subtly unsettling imagery. I wonder how its reception is influenced by that widespread visual literacy. Editor: Certainly, those manga influences are obvious. Looking closer, the formal choices here are compelling: The repetition of the figures, each caught in a different state—one with eyes closed, one looking out. What is it conveying to us? Curator: Considering the title, "Haven-Me Myself and I," I'm struck by how it speaks to the contemporary fascination with identity and self-representation in digital spaces. Think about the art world, for example. Social media heavily shapes our self-perception and public persona, almost like creating multiple versions of ourselves, each seeking solace in its representation. Editor: That’s a fascinating observation. But at the purely visual level, observe how those lines, seemingly melting from their faces and blending into the environment, serve as a unifying motif. They integrate the figures and landscape as one unified entity. Curator: True, the dissolving of the boundaries also carries a cultural echo. We are increasingly exposed to the deconstruction of rigid categories, be they racial, gender-based, or even related to the concept of nationhood. It may hint at these liquid identities. Editor: It also introduces ambiguity. Look at the deliberate contrast in textures—the flatness of the sky, the fluidity of the rainbow pool, and the carefully modeled faces. The painting teases and provokes questions about identity through very specific visual language. Curator: Agreed. It is easy to see, given our cultural and political climate, that art can use portraits not simply to represent, but to create open conversation. It does exactly that! Editor: It has certainly given me new perspective. A compelling image, formally and intellectually. Curator: Absolutely, a powerful blend of technique and timely commentary.