Early Morning 1984

Editor: "Early Morning" by Valerio Adami, created in 1984 using acrylic paint. I'm immediately struck by how unsettling it is—the vibrant colours mixed with such bizarre imagery…What's your take on this, beyond my initial reaction? Curator: Ah, yes! Unsettling is a brilliant starting point. It has an undeniable… "what did I just see?" quality about it. What story do you think Adami is telling, or perhaps disrupting? Editor: Well, I'm unsure! Maybe a grotesque figure performing a mundane ritual...It all feels dreamlike and menacing, almost surreal. Curator: Dreamlike indeed. It feels like we’ve stumbled into someone’s subconscious. Those bold outlines and flat colors – it's undeniably Pop Art-esque, yet it feels far removed from Warhol’s celebrity portraits or Lichtenstein's comic book appropriations, wouldn't you agree? Instead, it leans more toward caricature and something…darker. What is the strangest detail that pops out to you? Editor: I would definitely say, a demonic figure with the lamb! Plus, what is the razor for, if it’s not violent intentions? It almost has mythological weight to it? Curator: Yes! See now we’re entering dangerous territory. What if we forget "good" and "evil", and this character in bed is an attempt to explore vulnerability? This artwork almost laughs in the face of interpretation, because those stark lines simultaneously give it an incredible sharpness, yet the subject seems to allude and never reveal. The volcanic scene also creates even greater, unknown symbolism. The lack of clear meaning creates a lasting discomfort for me, personally. Editor: I'm not sure, but, in any case, the personal touch you brought by inviting us into that perspective makes the piece way more exciting and challenging for me. Thanks. Curator: My pleasure. Art's best when it wriggles its way into your mind. It refuses to leave.