Shaker Desk c. 1937

John W. Kelleher made this Shaker Desk, with materials unknown, at an unknown date. The colour is so flat, so even, like spread peanut butter. I’m interested in the way that the light is faked, like a memory of light, an idea of light. There's a slight awkwardness to the symmetry and perspective, the kind of mistakes that open up the space for other possibilities. It's like a simplified version of a real desk, where the essence of the desk is distilled. Look at the thin line around the edge of the drawers, it’s like he’s trapped the colour within, creating a cartoonish glow, which emphasizes the form. The original Shaker makers were probably more interested in utility and function, so, in this way, Kelleher has given us his interpretation. It reminds me of a Morandi, but instead of bottles it’s a desk, quiet and contemplative, full of potential.