[no title] 1981

Curator: This untitled print by Martin Disler presents us with a stark image rendered in etching. It's part of the Tate collection, and the dimensions are roughly 530 by 730 millimeters. My first impression is of violence, almost surgical in its rawness. Editor: The saw cutting across what appears to be a human or animal form certainly evokes violence. It's such a direct visual metaphor, tapping into primal fears around bodily autonomy and control, especially within marginalized communities and historically oppressed groups. Curator: Absolutely. The saw, a symbol of both construction and destruction, reminds us of how power structures can dismantle individuals and communities. But what’s particularly striking is the ambiguity of the figure; is it victim or aggressor? Editor: I see it as the eternal return of destructive behavior. That saw, reminiscent of Saturn devouring his children, can be interpreted through the lens of cyclical trauma. It speaks to the self-destructive tendencies of power, perpetually consuming itself and others. Curator: A chilling thought. It pushes us to consider not only the immediate act of violence, but its long-term consequences on identity and collective memory. Editor: Indeed, and how these symbols continue to shape our understanding of power dynamics and the ongoing struggle for liberation. Curator: It leaves me pondering the systems that perpetuate such imagery and our responsibility to confront them. Editor: A stark reminder of the echoes of history reverberating into our present.