Oneiric Note 2017

Editor: This is "Oneiric Note," a 2017 charcoal drawing by Soey Milk. It's a compelling portrait, very detailed...almost hyperrealistic in places. What strikes me is how the textures of the fabrics contrast with the smoothness of the figure’s skin. What’s your take? Curator: For me, the critical element lies in understanding Milk’s chosen medium: charcoal. Think about the raw materials - burnt wood. It’s fundamental to early mark-making. The process transforms a discarded material into a tool for representing, even celebrating, the body and these patterned textiles. Editor: So you’re focusing on the transformation inherent in using charcoal, rather than the subject matter itself? Curator: Exactly. Consider how the *labor* of creating such detailed realism with something as basic as charcoal pushes against the idea of art as solely intellectual. The meticulous rendering is where the meaning resides. Are we looking at simply a nude or an exploration of art-making itself? Editor: That's a great point! It shifts my perspective. It is about more than what is depicted, it's the *how.* Do you think the artist is commenting on commercial production of textiles with these detailed depictions? Curator: Potentially. But, fundamentally, the patterned cloth highlights an intricate artistic process using natural, inexpensive material to depict purchasable items - like fabrics or scarves. And, it invites questions about labor involved in the *making* of the art object itself versus labor of making a bandana. Editor: I hadn’t thought about that contrast. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: No problem. What do you make of her choices now, in light of that production context? Editor: It’s making me think about the value we assign to different types of work, and how an artist’s choice of material can be a powerful statement. I’ll never look at charcoal drawings the same way again!