Shark Puppet c. 1936

Editor: This is "Shark Puppet," a watercolor and colored pencil drawing from about 1936. The puppet looks a bit menacing, I must say! How would you interpret this work? Curator: It's interesting to consider this "Shark Puppet" in the context of its time. The 1930s were a period of immense social and political upheaval. How might the creation of a puppet, especially one representing a predator, serve as commentary, perhaps about power structures or the precarity of human existence during that era? What comes to mind when considering such forces and conditions? Editor: Well, I hadn't really thought of it that way... more like a kid's toy. But the idea of it reflecting anxiety or commenting on society makes it much deeper. Maybe it’s critiquing exploitation of natural resources. Curator: Exactly! And let’s consider the use of puppets themselves. Puppets often represent figures controlled by larger forces. Does this puppet perhaps stand as a metaphor for people being manipulated by forces beyond their control, or a critique of authoritarianism? What might be intended or inferred from this connection? Editor: That adds another layer, thinking about manipulation and control beyond the visual. This puppet becomes a statement. Curator: It does, doesn't it? And thinking intersectionally, consider this: sharks have also been racialized in the language around immigration and xenophobia, such as calling migrants ‘sharks’ feeding on resources. In the contemporary era, we need to be alive to how these histories shape interpretation and action, too. Editor: That’s quite powerful to bring into the discussion, to think about those real-world power dynamics when viewing this "Shark Puppet." I definitely see much more than I initially did! Curator: It’s all about continually re-evaluating the work through different critical lenses, making space to ask tough questions!