Chroniques de champignons 2009

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by how unnervingly large the mushrooms are. They dominate the canvas, looming almost aggressively. It reminds me of a fairy tale, but one tinged with unease. Editor: Well, that unsettling quality is something Sablón, the artist, courts in many of his works. Let’s consider “Chroniques de champignons,” created in 2009. On display is his oil painting of mushrooms emerging from a surreal landscape. I wonder, could this piece comment on hidden ecological structures, those largely unseen systems that dictate so much about our known world? Curator: Oh, I love that reading! Definitely, because mushrooms, in folklore, are symbols of transformation and the unseen. I mean, they're literally the fruiting bodies of vast, hidden networks. It is not surprising this piece feels symbolic. It feels almost like a visual metaphor for the subconscious. Editor: Exactly! Sablón, whether intentionally or not, taps into that deeply ingrained symbolism. And there's a very active interest within the culture to tap into indigenous practices, particularly for medicine and connection to the Earth. Mushrooms often have a part in these practices and stories. Do you think Sablón pulls upon this kind of context? Curator: It feels inevitable that there is some kind of influence. The textures created in the work have this almost "hallucinatory" feel, a world normally unseen becomes present and real. Editor: His use of perspective distorts our perception. They are a blend of realism and the surreal. It’s the kind of perspective that throws off the viewer, challenging your relationship to a "real" or stable view of our world. Curator: Yes, they stand between a romantic and natural image. Sablón shows our complicated connections between our imagination and our ecosystems. It reminds me a little of Bosch, actually, but in this century! Editor: Well, looking closer into “Chroniques de champignons," it is amazing how such simple organisms become profound reflections. Thank you for offering your wisdom. Curator: Thank you, and for the continued work and dedication to public engagement and thought-provoking artworks.