Power Points. 2008

Editor: Okay, here we have Erro’s "Power Points" from 2008, a mixed-media painting that reminds me of a graphic novel page. The bold lines and cartoonish figures really pop. What's your interpretation of this work? Curator: Well, from a materialist perspective, consider how the mixed-media aspect blurs the lines between "high art" and more accessible forms of production, like comics. Think about the labor involved, too. What does the process of creating this detailed image in this particular style mean in our contemporary consumer society? Editor: So, it's not just *what* is depicted, but how the artist is using these media to convey a message about our material culture? Curator: Exactly! The slickness of the lines, the vivid colors - these mimic commercial printing. Erro is drawing attention to the methods of mass production. Do you notice any signifiers of value that intersect with mass production or commodity fetishism? Editor: Well, the female character gives the middle finger, which feels like a revolt against... something. Is she rejecting being commodified, maybe? The robotic hand above is also an interesting counterpoint to her ‘human’ presentation... both being representations for consumption by a specific audience? Curator: Precisely! It seems that Erro asks us to consider not just who holds power, but *how* that power is produced and consumed visually. And by consuming, we inevitably participate in a market whether we want to or not. Editor: That’s a great point. I was focusing on the imagery, but you've helped me see how the very act of creating and viewing the artwork plays into a larger system of production and consumption. Curator: Yes, by considering process and context, we are forced to think critically about art's place in a larger economic framework. Editor: I’ll never look at a comic-inspired art in the same way!