The Game 

Editor: We’re looking at “The Game” by Stanley Pinker, it seems to be done with watercolours. It's like a strange, fragmented dream – figures boxing, zebras lounging, a tortoise on a tightrope, and is that a chessboard? The composition is wild! What is your read of this artwork? Curator: The title “The Game” suggests rules and competition. But the chaos within the picture undermines any straightforward understanding of these themes. Consider the context in which Pinker was working. How did Apartheid's racial segregation influence art institutions and the images circulating within South Africa at the time? Do you see hints of those social issues here? Editor: I see the boxing match might relate, especially with the contrast between the figures, but everything is so bizarre. What’s the message? Curator: Perhaps it’s not about a single message, but about visualising the layered, often conflicting realities of South African society at the time. The inclusion of elements that could be interpreted in many ways points to the unreliability of a single narrative. Think about how "high" art and popular culture collide. The cartoon-like characters, the strange juxtaposition... what’s the “Pschiit!” bottle doing there? It's as if Pinker is questioning the seriousness expected of art and cultural narratives. Editor: So, instead of offering answers, it poses questions? Like, how do seemingly random images reflect on wider societal “games”? Curator: Exactly. It is a disruption. Editor: This makes me reconsider the power of seemingly absurd art. There's a potent social commentary woven into its disarray! Curator: Indeed, a great artwork encourages further questioning. This has been a fun exploration, making me look at the image with fresh eyes!