Makini 

Curator: Welcome. We're looking at "Makini" by Julie Bell. The artist's favored medium is oil paint, and in this instance, she offers a realistic, intimate animal portrait. Editor: Wow, I'm immediately struck by the gaze. It's so direct, so knowing. I feel like this lion is judging my life choices. There’s something deeply soulful in those eyes, almost human. Curator: Indeed. Representations of lions carry a complex weight in art history, often functioning as symbols of power, royalty, and masculine dominance. How might we situate this artwork within contemporary conversations around these symbols? Editor: Good point. You know, sometimes I feel like all those conventional interpretations flatten the animal. I mean, yeah, lions are apex predators, but they’re also...cats. Look at the soft focus around the edges, the way the light catches in his fur. There’s a tenderness, vulnerability almost. Makes you want to scratch him behind the ears! Curator: The rendering is certainly exquisite. Bell's hyperrealism is, arguably, an interesting position, given that realism, especially of this variety, often elides the representational violence inherent in picturing the animal, where, for example, historically, trophy hunting has carried symbolic significance. Editor: Hmmm, I get that. But what if, by humanizing the lion through this intense portraiture, Bell is pushing back against those power dynamics? Giving him a voice, or at least, a very compelling face. Like, "I see you seeing me," you know? Maybe this piece becomes part of discourse advocating for animal rights? I could also be completely projecting my cat-lady agenda, ha! Curator: That’s a valid point, about extending considerations of the individual animal, yes. Perhaps Bell seeks to highlight individuality through careful portrayal, while also addressing the wider political significance implicated by its presence. The green background itself is not traditionally "Lion habitat," thus subtly decentering a particular reading. Editor: Yeah, instead of a backdrop depicting the hunt, Bell places this image more squarely in our world, in our consciousness. Almost like a plea or challenge, right? Thanks, that definitely offered a deeper context that hadn't initially occurred to me! Curator: It's always insightful to consider those socio-historical threads, isn't it? Thank you for sharing your emotional and artistic perspective.