I can never keep Hans Christian Andersen out of my head. He wrote stories on so many subjects; some have clear morals like The Ugly Duckling or The Red Shoes, while others are a little more vague. The Daisy is one of those-- markedly depressing and innocent-- which leaves some questions. I don't generally like to tell people what to get out of art, s...

"The Artist is a trickster."

People have long described the role of artists as "tricksters", and rightfully so. They serve as social commentators, satirists, philosophers, and comedians without being fully direct. An innocent looking painting can contain symbolic imagery that viewers might pass up at first glace; a set of sculptures can criticize the s...