Curatorial notes
Editor: This is Vija Celmins’ "December 1984," a print from the Tate Collection. It's a field of stars, incredibly detailed. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious? Curator: I see a reflection of the Cold War era, where the vastness of space became a new frontier, both scientifically and ideologically. Celmins offers a counterpoint to grandiose space exploration narratives. Editor: A counterpoint? How so? Curator: The seemingly objective representation of stars is, in fact, mediated. It's a print, a copy of a copy, emphasizing the distance between us and the cosmos, and the power of institutions in shaping our perception. It reminds me that the cosmos are a political space. Editor: That’s fascinating, it's more than just a picture of stars. Curator: Exactly! It's about how we frame and understand our place in the universe.
