Simplicity 1974

Editor: This is Oyvind Fahlstrom's "Simplicity," from 1974, a mixed-media collage and print. The dark background and collection of seemingly unrelated objects feel chaotic, despite the title. How do you interpret this work, with its various textures and symbols? Curator: Well, immediately I'm drawn to the diverse materials – collage elements juxtaposed with printing techniques. It speaks volumes about Fahlstrom's process. Do you see how this approach challenges the traditional notion of artistic skill? The labor and time-intensive process of both collage and printmaking contrasts with the notion of 'simplicity'. It makes me wonder if Fahlstrom aimed to expose the complicated networks inherent in both material production and image creation, while making a commentary on our societal expectations around those processes? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. So, the 'simplicity' isn't about the image itself, but perhaps a commentary on how easily we consume images without thinking about their making? Curator: Precisely. Consider also the use of text within the image. Is Fahlstrom referencing the increasing flow of information and the artist's role in dissecting it? These fragmented texts point towards larger social, political or philosophical bodies. He wants us to question what labour created this information and who it benefits. Editor: So, by combining all these different materials and methods, he’s pushing us to consider the physical reality and socio-economic implications behind artistic production? Curator: Exactly! It’s not just about aesthetics but an interrogation of artistic production as an ideological project of capitalism. Fahlstrom seems to be advocating for the demystification of how art is made and consumed. Editor: I never would have picked up on that by just looking at the image, but breaking down the materials used gives a totally different way to read the work. Thank you! Curator: And by recognizing all that labor that created the work and questioning it, maybe *that's* the "simplicity" Fahlstrom is pointing to.