Man with Ladder 1994

Editor: So, this is "Man with Ladder" by Duane Hanson, made in 1994. It's a sculpture and, honestly, it’s kind of unsettling how realistic it is. He almost seems… tired. What’s your take on it? Curator: Unsettling is a great word for it. I feel like I’ve seen this man, maybe yesterday, maybe in a dream. Duane Hanson's sculptures often possess that quality— a hyper-realism that pierces through the surface. It makes us consider not just who this man *is*, but who he represents. He is, after all, standing before you, captured. What do you see beyond the paint stains? Editor: Well, there's something about the ladder itself, too. It feels almost… looming, even though it's a simple object. Curator: Absolutely. The ladder is more than just a prop. It's symbolic of aspiration, of reaching higher, but also perhaps, of labor, and the physical toll it takes. Look at the way he’s holding the yellow chord in his left hand. What do you suppose he plans on doing with it? Does that chord change anything? Editor: I hadn’t really thought about it that way... maybe he is tired from manual work and what that takes of you on the longer term, it gives it almost an aura of fatigue. Curator: Exactly! And in placing this figure in an art space, Hanson prompts a double take. Is he *part* of the exhibition, or has he wandered in to fix something? Where is the boundary of “art?” The surprise makes you engage differently. Don’t you think so? Editor: Definitely! It makes you question your own assumptions and expectations, I like that a lot. Thank you! Curator: And thank you. Art’s about asking questions, not having all the answers, and there’s a wonderful joy in just looking, right?