Bergdorf Goodman NYC 2015

Curator: Patrick Pietropoli’s acrylic painting, "Bergdorf Goodman NYC," completed in 2015, offers us a compelling perspective on this iconic urban landscape. Editor: My first impression is the almost monochromatic palette gives the painting a very somber, contemplative mood. It captures a very specific, almost nostalgic feel for New York, despite being relatively recent. Curator: I’m particularly interested in how Pietropoli employs acrylics. He isn’t just capturing the likeness of Bergdorf Goodman; he's really exploring the texture and labor embedded in this construction, right? Think about the historical context – luxury retail like this is a product of so much unseen labor. Editor: Absolutely, and thinking about that intersection of labor and consumption, the painting inadvertently invites reflection on class. We're visually positioned at street level, amongst ordinary passersby, gazing toward a space that symbolizes aspirational wealth. It's a constant dialogue happening within the cityscape itself. Curator: It also plays with architectural rendering techniques. Notice how he represents form, and how it implies construction practices? This building is, in itself, a testament to human endeavor. Pietropoli directs us toward the very mechanisms that undergird daily urban experience. Editor: I agree. Further, the composition directs our eye to the towering buildings in the background, reinforcing the historical legacy and imposing nature of urban architecture which frequently operates as a patriarchal system shaping the lives of its inhabitants. Curator: The material application definitely drives our reading of the imagery, doesn't it? I now appreciate its depiction of this very material streetscape so much more, by truly delving into its construction. Editor: Indeed. Engaging with “Bergdorf Goodman NYC,” has prompted critical reflections about space, access, and who benefits most from these highly visible symbols of aspiration in our urban environments.