In a Minute | Fitsum Behre A Diary of a Curator's Podcast

A portrait is very difficult because of an artist as to hold you, the viewer only by the face of his/her subject. With a major portion of the work covering this one element. Again the contemporary portraits or figurative becomes more difficult to hold the attention of the viewer where the focus is on technique and colours and not only merely on the expressions. This painting is a fine example of how the colours can define the expression and story in a painting. The brush strokes and colour blocks here makes this African lady more beautiful. The aqua blue in the right side is very well balanced with the blues and purples in forehead and face respectively. However, what draws my attention is the left side of the work in white and layered colourful background. It has hidden layers interesting to think and enjoy, creating stories with your friends and family about what this hidden layered story would be. Why the lady is smiling like this? Do you see a different smirk in her smile? Such questions make me interested in this kind of work where it leaves things up to the viewer to think, engage and enjoy.