The Presentation 1976

Curator: Welcome! Today, we'll be discussing Desmond Morris's 1976 work, "The Presentation," executed in watercolor. Editor: Well, hello! My first impression? It feels like I've stumbled into a Dr. Seuss book written by Salvador Dalí. Bizarre, a bit unsettling, but undeniably fascinating. Like a dream you can’t quite shake. Curator: That's an interesting take. The surrealist element is undeniable, aligning with Morris's exploration of the subconscious and biological forms. As a zoologist and surrealist painter, Morris often blended these passions, and this painting is no exception. One could argue it's a presentation of organic, evolving shapes – or even a playful deconstruction of what a presentation might be. Editor: "Presentation" feels almost ironic given the… eccentric forms on display. A few amorphous blobs here, some quirky organic shapes there. It's got a playful rebellion to it. Like showing up to a board meeting dressed as an eggplant. Curator: Indeed. Morris, as an academician who rose to public attention with works like "The Naked Ape," would've certainly been aware of and even critiquing performative social constructs and rituals. Perhaps the artist offers these quasi-biological shapes as representing basic natural forms from which performative constructs like a "presentation" are conceived. The lack of classical representational forms and muted colour palette, help disrupt standard art viewing expectations. Editor: Perhaps... Or, dare I say it, maybe he just thought it looked cool. It's fun to assign deep meaning, but sometimes art's joy lies in its sheer, unapologetic weirdness, which can also give birth to interesting artistic directions in the wider society. You can feel the urge to rebel from common approaches that may have affected artists and wider society back then, when art tried to challenge status quo with bold forms and a different mindset. Curator: Well, whether cool or coded, Morris undeniably delivers a visually striking piece that opens endless pathways for inquiry, and that's not a bad offering to the public's eye at all. Editor: Absolutely. It certainly proves presentations don't have to be boring PowerPoint slides, so even after years since the artwork creation, there's some value and teachings within it.