The Creation 

Editor: So, this painting is called "The Creation" by Michael Parkes. It's oil on canvas. The composition is very intriguing. The artist seems to juxtapose very different textures and elements, creating a rather dreamlike feeling. What catches your eye the most when you look at this work? Curator: What strikes me immediately is the sheer labour involved. Look at the hyperrealism achieved with oil paint. Consider the intense level of craft necessary to render skin, fur, metal and tile with such precision. This speaks to the artist’s dedicated practice and control of their medium. It also begs questions about value, doesn’t it? Is it simply the time involved that gives this work value? Editor: I hadn't thought about the labor aspect. But you're right; there's clearly an incredible amount of skill on display. Does the "creation" in the title imply something about the making process itself? Curator: Absolutely. Think about the social context. Parkes is making art, using materials sourced and made possible through various levels of industrial production. Paint pigments, canvas… these are commodities, aren't they? And then, the depicted figure is *literally* creating by painting. Is she creating *life*, or simply *image*? Editor: I see what you mean. It’s about reflecting on the process of creation in its various forms and also questioning the very idea of artistic labor in today's world. It makes me wonder about the materials available and the choices he made! Curator: Precisely. We tend to celebrate the end product without acknowledging the many hands and material processes that went into it. This work compels us to consider not just "what" is being represented, but "how" it came to be. Editor: It is fascinating how focusing on materiality brings new perspective. Thank you! Curator: Indeed! Materiality opens a new dimension. It goes far beyond admiring its aesthetic appearance.