The Beast 2018

Editor: We're looking at "The Beast," a 2018 print, specifically an etching, by Thiago Boecan. The stark black and white is quite striking, and there's something primal and almost frightening about the creature depicted. What do you see in this work? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the archetypal imagery. The 'beast' is a powerful symbol deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Think about the Minotaur, or even the beasts found in religious iconography representing temptation or chaos. This image resonates because it taps into those primordial fears and fascinations. Editor: Fascinating. So, the animalistic form itself is a sort of cultural shorthand? Curator: Precisely. Notice the texture created through the etching process. The rough lines almost seem to claw at the viewer. And the horns! They're so smooth and exaggerated, contrasting sharply with the beast's textured body. What do you think the artist might be communicating through this contrast? Editor: Perhaps a tension between a raw, untamed nature and a more refined, almost artificial representation of power? Curator: I like that interpretation. The smooth horns representing an elevated status symbol contrasting against a natural form in action. Maybe it speaks to our attempts to control or harness the wilder aspects of ourselves and of nature itself, how a society may re-create the world to fulfill particular fantasies. Editor: That adds a whole new layer to my understanding. It’s not just a scary beast; it's about the human impulse to define and control the "beastly." Curator: Indeed! And seeing this beast printed makes one also think of other mythological creatures like the Goat of Mendes that takes an idolized position across societies in stark relief. Thank you, I have learned a bit myself in looking again. Editor: Me too. I will remember these archetypes!