Nothing But Trouble 1991

Curator: “Nothing But Trouble,” a 1991 oil painting by Boris Vallejo… it's definitely… striking. The central figures seem to be running from something, but the whole composition is so bizarre. What do you see here? Editor: The sheer abundance of bones immediately caught my eye. Looking at this painting through a materialist lens, I’m thinking about the physical process: the gathering, preparation, and arrangement of materials required for such a work. Bones signify death, so I see it as commenting on the labor that surrounds that... what do you think? Curator: Well, considering Vallejo's typical fantasy art focus, those bones likely came from somewhere – some other *thing's* labor and process. Look at the textures, the meticulous rendering. What tools do you imagine were used, and how might the production process comment on this piece's commercial fantasy aspects versus other uses of bones in art? Editor: So you’re wondering how the actual *making* – the craft of it – reflects how fantasy illustrations are commodified? It's a manufactured surrealism! Thinking about it that way, do you consider Vallejo’s work a critique or a celebration of that fantasy industry, in the early 90s? Curator: That's precisely the crux. Vallejo utilizes the labor and exploitation that capitalism represents to showcase that kind of life. To determine the message and understand how and to what extent the message can affect individuals are vital components of this picture, just as important as technique. The slickness of it almost glamorizes the gruesome. Editor: Right! It’s so meticulously produced, you almost miss the critique because you’re caught up in the spectacle. Considering all that, I've definitely learned to question how a piece's making process – not just its subject – informs its cultural role. Curator: Precisely! That push and pull, that friction, can reveal hidden social undercurrents related to creation. I also notice how easily things become accepted simply through how they are constructed; art often carries subtle propaganda or societal reflection that are unnoticed by everyday people.