Burger Thing 

Curator: I am immediately hit by this whirlwind of imagery, its chaotic nature—a collage of recognizable, slightly unsettling icons—makes you think of those late-night, sugar-fueled cartoon binges. Editor: Right! Let's dive in. What we're looking at is a painting by Dave Macdowell entitled "Burger Thing". There's no firm date attached to the work. Painted with acrylic, the overall feeling definitely screams "pop surrealism," doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. And it speaks to our modern experience, our anxieties around consumption, and possibly even questions our relationship to work, judging from the fast food employee character near the painting’s center. The artist plays with archetypes to give shape to something very raw and unfiltered. Editor: The employee is a compelling entry point into thinking about the art in a deeper context. This depiction highlights the labor that goes into the food industry, and also speaks volumes about the grotesque imagery employed. It seems to be a commentary on both the allure and the potential horrors of capitalist consumption, almost daring the viewer to question what they're willing to consume. Curator: I also find the humor irresistible— the dripping sauces transformed into monstrous, almost cartoonish characters with bulging eyes and fangs! There is a delicate balance being struck, isn’t it, where it is both disgusting and amusing? Editor: True, the humor is there but so is the deeper critique. This painting can be placed into a trajectory of artists using pop art to scrutinize society and consumerism, not unlike what the Surrealists attempted with the dreamscape. But the way it tackles class through those identifiable pop culture images opens up an exciting field of inquiry. Curator: I agree; this "Burger Thing" seems like an unapologetic expression of the tensions present in our everyday lives—one which encourages you to reflect on the strange realities and anxieties simmering just beneath the surface. Editor: It truly underscores the importance of questioning the power dynamics inherent in consumer culture, offering a stark perspective of how these forces mold identity and perception, perhaps one monstrous bite at a time.