Melody Of Red Feathers Garment 

Editor: This is Kun Wang's "Melody of Red Feathers Garment," a painting rendered with acrylics, though it has no indicated creation date. The figure and use of rich colours creates such a striking image. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The visible brushwork tells us so much. Think about the artist's physical engagement with the materials—the texture of the canvas, the viscosity of the paint, the gesture of the hand. It's not just an image; it’s a record of labor, both of the model and of the artist who uses his experience, training, and talent to generate the painting. What sort of cultural references does this painting activate, do you think? Editor: I think I see traces of romanticism, maybe some orientalism with the dancer. Is there any relationship to actual orientalist labour, or materials used? Curator: Interesting. Rather than simply looking at the *representation* of the "oriental," we might think about where Wang sourced his pigments and canvas. Were they locally produced, or were they products of global trade? And consider the labor involved in their creation and distribution. The garment itself -- mass produced perhaps, rather than hand crafted? Editor: I never thought about the origin of materials beyond the paint itself. That brings so much more to the table. I appreciate seeing the layers. Curator: Precisely. The painting isn't just a window onto another world; it's a material object embedded in complex economic and social systems. This shift gives me much to consider, even in a single piece.