#08: El Barril (The Barrel) 2008

Editor: This is "#08: El Barril (The Barrel)" by Marina Pallares, created in 2008. It's a black and white woodcut print. There's this real graphic feel, a starkness, like an old poster. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, this piece really sings to me! It’s not just a barrel; it’s a celebration, or maybe a commentary, on…let's say "celebratory fluids"! See the "tequila" inscribed? The way Pallares uses that woodcut technique to almost vibrate the image? Like a blurry memory...a good one, I hope. What jumps out at you beyond the subject matter itself? Editor: I see the tequila bottles sort of ghosting in the background. Is that intentional, do you think? Or just part of the aesthetic? Curator: Definitely intentional! It's almost like the spirit of the tequila itself is emanating from the barrel, permeating the air around it. A subtle wink, wouldn’t you say? Do you feel that she´s passing any judgments here? Editor: Hmmm... No judgment, just sort of, "here it is!" Curator: Exactly! It's forthright. Look at the sharp lines of the woodcut, they feel decisive, bold. I bet that barrel could tell us a few good stories. Editor: It feels both simple and incredibly detailed at the same time. Curator: That's the magic, isn’t it? Simplicity, distilled. Just like a good tequila! It is a striking piece with a graphic design. Editor: Definitely. I see so much more in this now. Curator: Excellent, that makes the exercise all worth while. The way artists convey the every-day stuff through print making is absolutely mind blowing.