Solitude 

Editor: Here we have "Solitude," an ink drawing by John Heliker. The urban scene is sketched in strong, dark strokes of ink, and my eyes keep going back to the figure seated on what seems to be a fire escape. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the materiality of the ink itself. Notice how the artist uses the varying thicknesses and densities to describe not just the forms, but the atmosphere. Ink, a readily available and relatively inexpensive medium, democratizes artmaking. We are prompted to question the hierarchies embedded within art production. Consider how Heliker's choice contrasts with, say, oil painting which might be associated with elite artistic practice. Editor: That's interesting! So the *how* it's made is just as important as *what* is made? Curator: Precisely. The emphasis on process and material encourages us to look beyond aesthetic beauty and towards the socio-economic conditions that shape art. Ask yourself: who had access to art-making and art consumption? What kind of labor was involved in the making of this artwork? Also, think about how the stark realism, captured so efficiently by ink, connects to social realism movements. Editor: It seems to invite questions about the artist's choices in terms of medium and their broader implications. Curator: Indeed. It’s also important to consider where Heliker acquired these materials and in what social context this piece of work would have been initially viewed. Think about its potential role in reflecting on class, labour and access in the art world. Editor: I will definitely look at art through this lens moving forward! Curator: Glad to hear that. Considering how a work is materially made brings another rich perspective for observation and analysis.