The art of Michael Parkes has been characterised as Magical Realism, a style that incorporates a sharply etched, meticulously realistic portrayal of his subject matter in a fantastical dream-like environment. If it is a function of art to transcend the ordinary, to take us to an ephemeral place that can only otherwise exist in our imagination, then these pictures surely do that. They are at once thrilling and serene; inducing a meditative state of heightened appreciation, one of marvel at the mystical placement of sublime beings at total ease alongside usually savage beasts, angels and strangely beautiful monsters.
Parkes, a contemporary American born painter and sculptor based in Spain, describes his intention as “try(ing) to find a sequence, or combinations of symbols, that invite the viewer into a space that seems foreign and at the same time, strangely comfortable.” While his work references the mythology and mysticism of many cultures, one series of pictures seems to arise completely from his own imaginings. These are the delightful “Collectors,” a curiously improbable group of beguiling seekers and custodians of precious, fragile, and most significantly, vulnerable things.
Although each one of the collectors is a unique being they are clearly all part of a group with a common sensibility, a guild perhaps, identifiable by their distinguished costumes: not quite uniforms, but sufficiently similar to suggest a definite unity of purpose. And neither are they engaged in some frivolous activity. Consider their stern yet benign visage; they are formidable figures. These are not dilettantes or hobbyists but guardians of the delicate things that need their stewardship. And notice how their approaches are subtle, gentle even, designed to promote trust among the precious things they seek to bring into their fold. These are certainly not collectors in the sense of accumulators of oddities, but are more like conservators or protectors of rare artifacts.
Michael Parkes describes the collectors as "creatures that find things of extraordinary interest and beauty. He invites us to look at such things as an egg, a frog, a seahorse or a hummingbird ... "just look at such things, don't think about them." He suggests that "the collectors know a secret about these objects. They can stop time! Past and future do not exist; only this moment has reality. The collectors show a way for us to stop the grinding thoughts of our mind and simply be with a timeless flower, seahorse, or hummingbird."
It is entirely possible that the activities of the collectors can serve as a metaphor for a particular approach to our world and the intrinsic worth of benevolent stewardship of the vulnerable. However, that is secondary to the simple elegance, dignity and joy conveyed by these beguiling images. Escapism it may well be, but I am unashamedly drawn into their magic and find the notion that every person has at least one object that will stop time for them impossible to resist.
For me that one very special object would be a dragonfly. How about you?"
Michael D Hansen
Follow the link to see a short video in which Michael Parkes discusses his work ....
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