Piggyback II 2021

James Jean made this acrylic and oil on wood painting, Piggyback II. The washes of coral pink and citrus yellow lay in contrast to the smooth, graphic precision of the forms. It’s a process that moves between accident and intention, a balance that I try to strike in my own work. The figure at the base of the painting looks like she is bearing the weight of all these different creatures, each rendered with such specificity. It’s like a tower of anxieties, each resting on the shoulders of the one below. Look at the way the starfish are painted, almost like tattoos on the figure's dress. They’re so carefully drawn, but also feel like they’re sinking into the fabric, dissolving into the background. There's something about the mood of Jean’s work that puts me in mind of Odilon Redon's symbolist paintings. Both share a sense of dreamlike fantasy, a kind of psychological landscape that feels both personal and universal. Art is all about these ongoing conversations, echoes across time, and Piggyback II is a great example of how artists build on what came before, creating something new and strange.