Sage 2019

Editor: So, this is Monica Ikegwu's 2019 oil painting, "Sage." The model's pose definitely catches your eye - all fingers-to-lips "shhh." What leaps out at you when you look at it? Curator: You know, it whispers to me of secrets, doesn't it? A sort of modern Mona Lisa, holding something back, daring you to pry. The almost aggressively bright green backdrop makes the figure pop, but it also feels…synthetic, doesn’t it? It’s like reality pushed through a filter. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but I see what you mean! Almost dreamlike. Do you think the title, "Sage," plays into that? Curator: Absolutely. "Sage" suggests wisdom, quiet contemplation. Is she the holder of some ancient secret, or a contemporary oracle? The subtle shimmer of her satin jacket – gorgeous technique, by the way - hints at something luxurious, privileged even, contrasting with the almost confrontational silence she demands. It's a fascinating paradox. It makes me wonder if "sage" is a subtle critique. Editor: So you’re thinking beyond face value...almost sarcastic? That’s a cool reading! Curator: Art's a playground, right? It begs you to make up stories, tear them down, and build again. I look at that pose and those knowing eyes, and I can't help but invent a whole hidden narrative around her. What secret could *I* possibly imagine that makes her smile, a hidden, conspiratorial knowing smirk. What do you think? Editor: I'm going to spend ages wondering now! I came expecting realism, but I’m leaving thinking about all sorts of possible narratives. That's so cool! Curator: Exactly! That’s what makes art sing, isn't it? To find a world of hidden thoughts in a deceptively ‘realistic’ pose and scene!