A Posteriori 

Curator: Standing before us is "A Posteriori", a compelling oil painting from the hand of Michael C. Hayes. Editor: Wow. My first thought? That's someone taking the cosmic dance a little *too* seriously! I mean, gorgeous and all, but also kind of... intense. Curator: It does command attention. The figuration strikes me as almost neo-expressionistic; observe the stark contrast of the figure against the dark backdrop, seemingly suspended within a field of stars. Editor: Yes! The figure definitely pops! And the brushwork is incredible here. Notice how the fiery halo behind her mirrors her posture, suggesting energy radiating outwards. But isn't there an intrinsic contradiction there? "A Posteriori" suggests knowledge derived from experience, yet she floats in a purely abstract, ethereal space... Curator: An excellent point. It asks if that lived experience extends beyond our known world. Hayes crafts a landscape of pure potential, yet grounds it with the raw emotion and tangible form of the nude. See how the swirling paint lends to the idea of space being almost pliable? Editor: It does give it that otherworldly quality. The figure is quite statuesque—she's giving me strong goddess vibes here. This piece presents such a powerful, sensual expression! Is she about to ascend to this fiery star? Or is she maybe trying to run away? I’m sure, at least she's definitely free... Curator: Perhaps the real question then becomes: Is she in control, or at the mercy of her universe? Regardless, "A Posteriori" encourages us to look beyond immediate surfaces and engage with deeper meanings within our own lived realities. Editor: Well, this has definitely been a deep dive, as intense and luminous as our floating friend here. So much to contemplate after this encounter!