Sarajevo 2016

Curator: Adam Caldwell’s “Sarajevo,” an oil painting created in 2016, immediately strikes you with its intensity, doesn’t it? Editor: It really does. The direct gaze of the subject is almost unnerving. There's something very raw and vulnerable about her expression, even within the fractured composition. It evokes a sense of unease and fragmented identity. Curator: Caldwell’s work frequently grapples with representing memory and trauma, wouldn’t you say? Notice how the Neo-Expressionist brushstrokes almost obscure the portrait, creating a sense of disintegration and palimpsest? It reminds me of the weight of the past and how it imprints on the present. Editor: Precisely. And given the title, "Sarajevo," the implications of historical trauma are undeniable. We're not simply looking at a portrait but engaging with the layered history of a city marked by conflict and siege. How the portrait appears to almost break apart feels incredibly relevant. Curator: It’s powerful how Caldwell uses the traditional form of portraiture to subvert our expectations. We are not presented with an idealized image, but instead a glimpse into a fragmented and complex psyche. The dripping paint and gestural marks…it’s a break from conventional representations, suggesting a deeper psychological struggle. Editor: Definitely. The choice of oil paint lends it a sense of permanence while simultaneously showing decay through the style of neo-expressionism. In viewing her this way, we can start unpacking questions of representation – who is seen, who is forgotten, and what does it mean to carry the weight of history? I see it as a commentary on resilience amid ongoing social and political turmoil, both historical and contemporary. Curator: And by leaving the mark-making visible, and using the texture of the paint so deliberately, he really evokes the psychological charge behind this moment. Editor: A challenging, poignant work that lingers in the mind, pushing us to remember and question. Curator: Yes, the symbolism behind memory, identity, and disruption certainly resonate powerfully with Caldwell's intentions.