#07: La Botella (The Bottle) 2008

Curator: This compelling woodcut print from 2008 is titled "#07: La Botella," by Marina Pallares. Editor: Stark! The contrast immediately grabs your eye. It’s a simple composition, a bottle and a glass, but rendered in such high contrast that it feels…potent, almost aggressive. Curator: Indeed. Pallares's choice of woodcut speaks to the work’s materiality. The process is inherently linked to labor, the physical act of carving away at the wood to create this image. This isn't a smooth, seamless reproduction; it’s tactile and grounded. And its size really emphasizes the work needed to complete this woodcut. Editor: And think about what's represented, “La Botella.” It evokes not only a specific product but the culture around it, particularly the rituals and social contexts surrounding alcohol consumption. In many communities, particularly working-class communities, sharing a drink can be a powerful symbol of solidarity. Curator: Absolutely. The agave plant symbol prominently displayed on the bottle nods to the specific origins and manufacturing of Tequila in Mexico and, of course, we see two halved lemons at either end. Pallares draws attention to these means of production and consumption. I think this brings forward complex historical and social conditions from its source culture. Editor: Exactly, think about the labor conditions surrounding agave harvesting and tequila production. We should never overlook the hands, often marginalized communities, behind seemingly simple goods. Also, is that a 7 floating behind the bottle, is there significance to this number I wonder? Curator: What I find striking is how Pallares elevates what could be seen as mundane. A bottle becomes a potent symbol, infused with social meaning through the artistic process. The medium truly becomes the message here. Editor: Yes, this artwork really prompts us to consider not just what we consume but who and what supports it. I am keen to now consider where other beverages are manufactured, and which beverages hold special symbolic weight for minoritized communities! Curator: The interplay between the graphic boldness and tactile quality of this woodcut print certainly does stay with you. It makes you contemplate all the complex histories interwoven into our everyday consumption. Editor: I completely agree! This work serves as a crucial reminder to engage with art that celebrates identity and acknowledges complex systems.