Vermilion 

Editor: So, here we have "Vermilion" by Charles Roberson and Co., it looks like a pigment sample in a glass jar. It strikes me as interesting that a colour is presented as a work of art. What do you make of it? Curator: It's fascinating to consider pigment itself as the subject. Vermilion's vibrant hue has historically been associated with power, divinity, and even danger. It's derived from cinnabar, a mercury sulfide mineral. Editor: Mercury, that's poisonous, right? Curator: Exactly. The creation of vermilion, and its use in art, involved risks. Consider how that inherent danger might shape our perception, knowing the cost of its creation. Does it change your understanding of the work? Editor: It does. It makes me think about the labour and the potential harm involved in making art. It's not just about the finished product anymore. Curator: Precisely. By acknowledging the full context, we move beyond mere aesthetics.