Daylily 1984

Editor: Here we have Jim Dine's "Daylily," created in 1984. It appears to be a pencil drawing, maybe even a print. The composition feels raw and immediate. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see Dine using the "Daylily" as a point of departure to engage with larger questions around representation, labor, and value. Think about the traditional association of flowers with the feminine, with decoration, even subservience. Then look at the aggressive mark-making, the almost violent scratching into the surface. Does that disrupt our conventional understanding? Editor: I guess it does a little bit. I never thought about it that way. Curator: How does this compare to the ways other artists, particularly female artists, have depicted flowers throughout art history? Does Dine subvert or reinforce any of those readings? Also, consider Dine's artistic choices, like focusing on organic forms rather than industrial products. In light of Pop Art, does this represent a form of rebellion? Editor: So, instead of seeing it as just a pretty picture of a flower, it is kind of making a statement. Curator: Precisely. It's an opportunity to dissect established notions and initiate vital dialogue regarding women and our relationship to the natural world, and challenge hierarchical conventions. Editor: That's fascinating; I’ll definitely look at Jim Dine's work differently now. Curator: And hopefully it encourages a more critical examination of all artworks, regardless of their apparent subject matter.