Sky Meditation 

Curator: This is Michael Parkes’ "Sky Meditation," and it presents such a curious scene. What strikes you first about this gouache and watercolor painting? Editor: It has a palpable sense of stillness despite the inherently dynamic figures. The composition—the young woman standing over the tiger, both perched precariously on that monstrously cracked head against a vast sky—should feel inherently unstable, but it does not. Curator: Precisely. Parkes is known for blending mythology and dreamlike imagery. Notice how the seemingly disparate elements coalesce. The woman evokes innocence, purity, standing tall as though unaware of the power dynamic beneath her. This tableau resonates with old myths of humans commanding animals. Editor: But isn't it also a subtle commentary on vulnerability? Her exposed posture, her gaze downward – she seems deeply lost in introspection. This formal choice invites the viewer to interpret the sky around her as a mirror reflecting the internal states. The artist creates balance through delicate colors: pastels contrasted by dark shapes of the gargoyle-like figure. Curator: That juxtaposition is quite compelling! The sky isn't just a backdrop; it's a field of consciousness, perhaps? That’s consistent with surrealism, which looks for a symbolic expression of dreams. Parkes could suggest a spiritual journey; that rocky figure could serve as the earthly foundation, the animal drive and impulse tamed by spiritual consciousness in the figure of a red-haired maiden. Editor: True. The upward gaze towards a hazy, light-filled space reinforces such interpretation. We can't overlook how Parkes' application of paint emphasizes shape to draw one in closer. The gouache provides this work with an even opacity. It is a world of subtle gradations within a stark and elegant arrangement. Curator: Overall, it is indeed a provocative composition with cultural symbols rendered ethereal and dreamlike. Editor: Exactly—it remains as intriguing and ambiguous on further consideration.