New Moon Full Moon 

Editor: This is Michael Parkes' painting "New Moon Full Moon", an acrylic-paint piece in a surreal landscape. There's something incredibly dreamlike about this. I'm curious, how do you interpret this work, especially in terms of its composition? Curator: The initial read suggests a narrative preoccupation; however, focusing on form reveals something different. Consider how Parkes structures the composition around opposing diagonals. The line created by the woman and her swans is countered by the moon bisected by the arrow. How do these visual relationships inform the meaning? Editor: I hadn't considered the diagonals! So, the relationship between the figure, the swans, and the moon creates a balance... or tension? Curator: Indeed. Think about color too. The subdued, almost monochromatic palette further emphasizes form. There are minimal gradations in hue, so our eye prioritizes shapes and their spatial relationships. Does the arrow hitting the moon speak to a kind of rupturing of the classical artistic standards, or a transition from "new moon" to "full moon," of artistic form? Editor: That’s a fascinating point. So it’s less about what the imagery is literally depicting and more about how these visual elements are interacting and evolving in time to communicate artistic expression, from romantic to perhaps modern? Curator: Precisely. Form supersedes explicit content in creating meaning. Disregarding symbolism of swans, moonlight, and arrows we might arrive at. Where would it be without its pictorial devices? Editor: That's changed how I see the painting; from seeking symbolic meaning to considering formal structure first. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure, seeing art through varied lenses always enriches the experience.