Quetzal 

Curator: This drawing, simply titled "Quetzal" by Michael Parkes, composed with pencil on paper, evokes a strange, almost dreamlike state, don't you think? It is as if one world is bleeding into another. What draws your attention the most? Editor: It's certainly intriguing! I'm fascinated by the artist's technique. The level of detail in pencil is stunning. The soft rendering of skin and fur, next to the decorative quality of the overall image... How can we start interpreting a piece like this? Curator: Well, from a materialist perspective, let's first consider the act of drawing itself. Pencil, historically a readily available and affordable medium, democratizes image-making. How does Parkes elevate, or perhaps subvert, the assumed preciousness we assign to high art by using such a common material? Think about labor; the sheer hours of meticulous mark-making required for this piece...what does it tell us about Parkes' engagement with the process of art production? Editor: So you're saying that choosing a "simple" material like pencil might actually be a statement in itself, against elitism within art? It feels both delicate and monumental. What about the composition with this striking figure? The tension between human, cheetah, and the birds... what might be at play here? Curator: Absolutely! Furthermore, the dreamlike imagery invites a conversation about consumption. Consider the cheetah as a symbol of luxury, of something acquired and controlled, placed next to a female figure and exotic birds; the "Quetzal" becomes something symbolic beyond beauty. What are the dynamics between humans, animals, and commodities? It provokes reflection on the labor that is required for art such as this to exist... Who benefits from this creation, who is engaged in production and labor, and how is this creation made possible? Editor: That’s fascinating. Thinking about it through the lens of production and consumption completely changes how I see the piece. I never considered how the medium itself contributes to its meaning. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us that art is never created in a vacuum. Everything from the artist’s choice of material to the subject matter reflects a larger web of social and economic relationships. Editor: Thank you. It's given me a much richer appreciation for the multiple layers at play in this artwork.