Somnambulist 2015

Soey Milk created this painting, Somnambulist, using oils, likely sometime in the early 21st century. Its dreamlike qualities invite us to consider the cultural associations we might bring to it. The subject's bonnet suggests an indigenous East Asian culture. The style references academic portraiture, but note that the bonnet appears unconventional for this setting, complicating its claim to cultural authenticity. The figure’s sleepwalking state further enhances the painting's feeling of cultural displacement. Are we, as viewers, also sleepwalking into cultural stereotypes? To understand Soey Milk's work, it is useful to look at the history of academic painting and the social structures that this kind of art was often used to reinforce. It’s also helpful to research the artist’s background and intentions, which can often be found through exhibition catalogs, press releases, and interviews.