Untitled 1992

Editor: So this mixed media assemblage by Vigen Vartanov, simply titled "Untitled," and created in 1992, is incredibly tactile. The rough textures and found objects create a really haunting atmosphere. What jumps out at you when you look at this? Curator: I immediately consider the artist's labour and the process of transforming discarded materials. This assemblage directly challenges the traditional hierarchy, no? We often separate the ‘high art’ of sculpture from the humbler realm of 'craft', but here Vartanov deliberately conflates them. Notice how the wood is aged, seemingly salvaged; and that ball… what is its origin? How does that impact your interpretation? Editor: It feels like this careful treatment gives what would otherwise be garbage new value. I guess the materials suggest that even the mundane or discarded can become something beautiful, or at least thought-provoking? Curator: Precisely. It's about revealing the history embedded within these objects. Each element carries its own story of production, consumption, and eventual disposal. And, given that the work was created in 1992, think about the societal conditions – what economic factors or cultural shifts might have influenced Vartanov's choice to work with these specific materials? What statement is Vartanov making by using these cast-offs? Editor: That's interesting, the historical context. I didn’t think about how it was a commentary on consumption. Curator: It's definitely open to interpretation. Thinking about the artistic process, could you say this artwork critiques mass production and wastefulness? By reassembling discarded items, Vartanov forces us to confront our own relationship with materials. Editor: I can see how Vartanov uses materials and processes to encourage viewers to confront their own relationship to mass consumption and labor practices. Curator: Indeed. Paying close attention to materiality changes how we see not only art but the entire world.