Dever 

Editor: Here we have "Dever," a matter-painting by Manabu Mabe, primarily using acrylic paint and impasto techniques. The colors are quite striking, with that vibrant red backdrop contrasted by blacks and whites. The impasto gives it such a tactile feel. What draws your eye when you look at this? Curator: My focus is immediately drawn to the process itself. The thickness of the acrylic, the evident layering and manipulation of the impasto. This wasn't just about depicting something; it was about *doing* something with the material. Think about the economic context: acrylic paints became more widely available and cheaper in the mid-20th century. How does that impact an artist’s choice to work in this medium, and in this way? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered the economic factors behind the medium choice. Curator: The materiality speaks volumes about the artist’s engagement with his resources. Was he exploring the capabilities of this new medium? Challenging traditional oil painting practices? The aggressive texture itself – is it a statement about the physical labor involved, moving beyond the pure aesthetic into a more embodied form of creation? Editor: I see what you mean. It’s like the painting itself is a record of the act of making. So, in that sense, even an abstract piece like this can reflect broader social trends of labor and accessibility of materials? Curator: Precisely! Consider where Mabe was working at the time and who he might have been trying to reach. Editor: This makes me see the painting completely differently now. Thanks! Curator: It’s about asking what the materials and the making reveal about art, labor, and society, and vice-versa!