Butterfly Moon 

Curator: Michael Parkes' painting, "Butterfly Moon," is a striking example of fantasy art rendered in acrylic paint. The precise date is currently unknown. What strikes you first about it? Editor: It evokes a strange sense of tranquility, doesn't it? The colour palette, the pose, the quietness on the model’s face and expression; even the winged figure seems paused. What about you? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the physical construction. Look at how the smooth surfaces contrast with the almost geometric formations of the figure's placement on the composition. It's very controlled, deliberate. The painting seems meticulously produced. What might the process tell us? Editor: Let’s focus on that 'Butterfly Moon' element for a second. In numerous mythologies, the moon has potent associations with femininity, transformation, illusion, dreams. Also butterflies for freedom of expression of one's emotions; there is an intricate dialogue set here. Curator: Interesting observation about symbolism. I see more of the artist's material labor. Think about it. How do the textures relate? What about Parkes’ relationship with the canvas, and the type of support. It reflects decisions related to value, craft, skill, or the economics of its manufacture. Editor: Still, that nude figure, drawing the moon with a delicate thread… What is that alluding to? It’s almost as if she's weaving her destiny from a celestial loom, with those butterfly guides as her guides! Curator: While you’re decoding that, I’m thinking, 'what does acrylic allow in terms of production time?' Was it chosen for its ability to mimic oil, or for some more affordable approach. That tells me more about its period or context than pure aesthetic pleasure. Editor: I’ll concede, however, that these colours feel deliberately subdued, a counterpoint, almost an alternative material perhaps? But consider: are those wings purely decorative? Or, like Hermes, do they denote a figure bridging worlds—dreams and reality, unconscious and conscious? Curator: Ultimately, Parkes is asking us to think about process, even when he uses dream imagery. Every deliberate act informs not just the visual result but our experience as observers and potentially owners of this image. Editor: In the end, regardless of our interpretations, we engage deeply with imagery. The memory that endures carries its meanings for future audiences. "Butterfly Moon" weaves symbolism to transform material form.