Joker 2010

Curator: Before us is Pedro Calapez’s 2010 acrylic painting, “Joker”. Editor: My initial thought is one of organized chaos. The colors are vibrant, yet the overall shape seems almost like a deconstructed ideogram, with those distinct streaks. It gives an impression of both energy and disarray. Curator: It’s interesting you say that because, as an artwork, "Joker" speaks volumes about process. Calapez's consistent use of acrylic allows for this layering and visible brushwork. There's a tangible emphasis on the materiality and construction, rather than an illusionistic rendering. I’m especially drawn to how the acrylic paint is layered to create textures. Editor: The application technique you noted—the visible labor in the making of the object, so to speak—resonates deeply with how art historical narratives have traditionally sidelined the contributions of the working classes, as well as crafts considered outside the canon. Looking at "Joker," the composition and color palette gestures at a type of late modernist aesthetic, though infused with gestures linked to movements such as pop art. Curator: Precisely. And considering how so-called high art has often been divorced from functional or everyday applications, Calapez blurs the lines, suggesting a reconsideration of where and how art exists in our world and within society. Editor: And there is so much that one can extract through such a work when discussing societal narratives as well. Thinking of abstraction's historical exclusion of many—the notion of art being neutral—but then looking at “Joker”, a painting from the 21st century, it speaks to who is invited in or excluded from art spaces, too. Curator: Definitely. For me, “Joker” invites viewers to appreciate not only the finished piece, but also the active labor of creation, pushing viewers to observe and contemplate the work itself rather than immediately going to its deeper meanings or themes. Editor: This approach really enriches how we see contemporary works because it helps broaden interpretations, acknowledging socio-political implications in art. Thanks for guiding us through "Joker" today; I can’t stop thinking about the politics inherent within its materiality! Curator: Likewise; by focusing on how artists like Calapez use materials and methods, we uncover new layers of meaning within artworks, especially concerning labor and production itself.