#30: El Sol (The Sun) 2008

Marina Pallares made #30: El Sol, a small linocut print, using only black and white. It's a study in contrasts, both visually and conceptually; the stark black ink against the bright white paper creates an immediate, visceral impact. The sun, usually a symbol of warmth, is given human-like features and a stern expression here. This sun isn't just passively shining; it's actively engaged, its rays almost like arrows. Pallares isn’t trying to hide her process. You can see the marks of the cutting tool. The lines are uneven, and the textures are rough, but that's the beauty of it. Look at the way the black ink pools around the edges of the sun's rays – it's almost like the sun is radiating darkness as much as light. It brings to mind the work of printmakers like Edvard Munch, who used similar techniques to express inner turmoil and emotional intensity. Art's about how we keep talking to each other, you know?