Winter 2018

Curator: Harmonia Rosales created this compelling piece, "Winter," in 2018 using oil paint. Editor: My initial reaction is one of stillness, almost meditative. The limited palette of whites, browns and silver really evokes a sense of cold and quietude. Curator: Rosales’ work frequently re-envisions classic European paintings with Black figures. There is a clear statement about who is historically included and excluded in our visual narratives of beauty and power. Editor: Absolutely. And considering formal qualities, notice the subject’s closed eyes, the soft blending of tones on her skin creating an almost dreamlike surface texture, which directs us inward. It reinforces the idea of contemplation and inner reflection, but also maybe of erasure. Curator: Her pieces force a crucial dialogue about representation. Take into account that Rosales reframes not just the subjects but often the core stories within those paintings, empowering traditionally marginalized identities and encouraging a re-evaluation of societal values and ideals. Editor: The figure is set against this patterned roundel—I'm not sure of the right term, is that an aureole, perhaps? What I see in its circular format is the interplay of rigid geometry against the organic lines of the flowers. It feels both decorative and structural at once, almost a paradox. Curator: Yes, placing her subject inside an ornamented circle is clearly reminiscent of Renaissance icon paintings that center white figures as saints or madonnas, Rosales challenges those very Western notions, asking viewers to examine the racial dynamics deeply rooted in art history and broader culture. Editor: The application of oil paint has a striking visual impact, there’s almost a velvety effect to her skin, then juxtapose that with the geometric design behind, using contrast and pattern to amplify symbolic content. Curator: It becomes increasingly imperative to look beyond merely what is depicted to dissect the politics of representation. Rosales uses familiar symbols to create space where Black subjects take ownership of visual legacy. Editor: Well, I’m drawn to this for its delicate aesthetic and subdued drama—almost melancholic, visually arresting, it's more than simply meets the eye. Curator: It offers critical perspective on whose image gets framed, admired and memorialized through painting.