Parrot 1983

Editor: This is Andy Warhol's "Parrot" from 1983, done in mixed media. I'm really struck by the starkness of the black background and how the colors pop, but there is something flat about it all, like it lacks depth. What are your thoughts on its composition? Curator: Precisely, the composition’s strength lies in its flattening of space. Note the stark contrast between the black ground and the overlaid neon outlines. The chromatic intensity serves to flatten the figure. Does the parrot conform to representational norms? Editor: Well, not really, its lines are bold, and the colors are simplified. It feels more graphic than realistic. Curator: Observe how Warhol has employed a simplified linework and high-contrast colors, negating traditional notions of depth and volume. It recalls screen printing's flat application of ink. Consider the relationship between line, color, and form, and how they articulate the pictorial surface. Are we looking at a parrot or something else entirely? Editor: You mean, like, is it really about something other than just a parrot? Curator: Think about what it means to depict this animal in a stylized, almost abstracted form. How does the superimposition of layers, the contrast of neon against black, contribute to an overall effect, irrespective of subject? Editor: I see! So it's more about how he's using those visual elements—the lines and the colors—to create a particular impact, more than just showing us a parrot. The form breaks down as you really look at it, but the boldness and colors still feel really present. Curator: An astute observation. By deconstructing the parrot into essential forms and colors, Warhol shifts our focus from the mimetic to the conceptual. It makes us ponder the basic elements that define both the object and our perception. Editor: This makes me look at Warhol differently. I thought it was just pop, but it's a little deeper than it appears. Thanks. Curator: Indeed, formalism urges us to look closely at art itself and how the artwork’s individual qualities determine its effectiveness.