The Horse and the Depths: Artists’ Books 1989

Curator: This is "The Horse and the Depths: Artists' Books" by Martin Kippenberger. The piece is undated and resides in the Tate Collections. Notice the interplay between text and image. Editor: It feels like visual chaos! Text scattered across the page, almost like graffiti, with a cartoonish figure looming over. Is it a statement or just randomness? Curator: Kippenberger was known for his subversive use of language and imagery. Observe how the layering creates a sense of depth. The materiality of the page itself becomes part of the statement. Editor: Subversive, certainly, but also playful. It's like a collage of thoughts and images, hinting at something darker but presented with a wink. Curator: The "depths" could be interpreted as the hidden layers of meaning, or perhaps a commentary on the complexities of communication within art itself. Editor: Maybe it is about how artists can have different thoughts that are hidden and brought to life by writing. Curator: Precisely. Kippenberger invites us to deconstruct and reassemble. Editor: I see that now; it’s an open invitation, and a playful one.