Damontae 2021

Curator: Monica Ikegwu's 2021 painting, "Damontae," presents a compelling figurative study in realism. Editor: Immediately striking, isn't it? All that luminous emerald green practically vibrates. And then, the subject, his pose, it feels...deliberately casual, but the precision tells another story. It's as if he's posing as posing. Curator: The work engages with themes of representation in contemporary portraiture, particularly in light of the renewed focus on inclusivity and diversity within art and fashion. Consider how Ikegwu plays with expectations here. Editor: Oh, she’s definitely messing with our heads. That clinical, almost hyper-real rendering clashes so wonderfully with the slightly vulnerable expression and open shirt. There’s an undercurrent of sensuality, of course, but also this real defiance of expectation. Who is allowed to be seen as beautiful and in what way? Boom. Curator: Absolutely. And looking at the composition itself, the interplay between the textures—the skin, the draped fabric—and the almost uniform color scheme, draws attention to form and light in a way that emphasizes the artist's technical skill and conceptual clarity. It is intriguing the way it feels hyper-real and stylized simultaneously, the background acting almost like a backdrop for a photograph. Editor: And that cool green, it's like being submerged in liquid light. The figure seems to float—almost otherworldly, you know? He seems fully immersed and comfortably reclined in his world. It really stays with you. Curator: Indeed. The image uses visual cues linked to commercial fashion photography and deliberately disrupts or, perhaps, reimagines their traditional functions. This, in turn, allows us to consider the societal roles these visuals play. Editor: I’m just imagining Ikegwu painting this, having a total blast twisting these tropes and really reclaiming ownership of this aesthetic. It really lands with an impact and leaves me pondering what’s hiding beneath the surface. Curator: The piece prompts a much-needed examination of what is culturally seen, by whom and why. A wonderful example of where the image is but a beginning. Editor: Agreed. Definitely one that invites you to keep looking and keep thinking.