Untitled 1969

Editor: Here we have an Untitled mural from 1969 by Sven Lukin. It's acrylic paint, and the bright colors are really striking. It feels very much like Pop Art, very graphic and clean. What are your thoughts when you see it? Curator: Immediately I think of the context in which this mural was produced. The late 60s were a time of mass production, a boom in plastics, and readily available acrylic paints. This artwork reflects a shift, I believe, where the means of production itself becomes part of the artistic statement. Lukin is emphasizing the 'made-ness' of this object, almost celebrating the industrial processes involved. Do you think it could also be read as Hard-edge? Editor: Definitely, the lines are so crisp, so precise. So the medium is the message in some way? Curator: Precisely. Think about what acrylic allowed him to do - flat, consistent colors, which speaks to the growing consumer culture. Even the large scale mimics advertising. Its accessibility as a mass produced product made for mass production. Can you think of any ways of linking this idea with consumer habits and society at the time? Editor: Hmm, maybe how it reflects the bright colors and bold designs that were becoming prevalent in product packaging and advertising? It's taking cues from everyday design and elevating it to "high art" Curator: Exactly. The line between "high" and "low" art begins to blur. Lukin's choice of materials and how he manipulates them are essential to understanding this piece as not just a formal arrangement of shapes, but a commentary on consumer culture itself. The labor involved, though not visible in the final product, is intrinsically tied to the materials and the means of their production. What do you think you will carry with you after looking at this work of art in detail? Editor: It makes you really consider how an artwork’s materials are essential to its impact, especially considering its time period.