Topsy 

Editor: This drawing is called "Topsy" by Sue Coe, rendered in pencil. The elephant dressed in human clothes really captures my attention – its melancholic gaze seems to convey such a world-weariness. What can you tell me about the formal elements at play? Curator: The most striking formal element is the stark contrast between the organic and the geometric. Notice how Coe juxtaposes the soft, rounded form of the elephant with the rigid lines of the wheeled cage. What affect might that create for the viewer? Editor: Well, that tension definitely adds to the drawing's unsettling feeling, which you noted earlier. Is this use of juxtaposition also seen in other works by Sue Coe? Curator: Indeed. Her artistic intention utilizes compositional strategies in service to sociopolitical critique, frequently contrasting vulnerable figures with stark industrial settings. The sketch work lends it a gritty and unfinished quality, heightening the drawing's impact. Also consider the symbolic weight of the lines suggesting the animals imprisoned within that barred carriage. Editor: That is powerful. It makes me think about the themes of animal rights. Now that you mention the style, what is it exactly conveying? Curator: I see in it an expressionistic approach, almost bordering on caricature, with the aim to draw the viewer's eye directly to her sociopolitical point of view and the imbalance she so artfully conveys here in “Topsy.” This aesthetic serves as a device of disruption— challenging the formal expectations of a purely representational style. Editor: So, it's like the form itself is fighting against complacency? I see that so clearly now. Curator: Precisely! The effectiveness hinges on how these compositional choices amplify her message. Editor: I am really appreciative of your pointing that out because that changes the work completely. Curator: My pleasure. It's through such critical readings that we unlock a work’s significance.