Star/Steer 1966

Curator: Ian Hamilton Finlay, born in 1925, created this intriguing work titled *Star/Steer*. Editor: My first impression is one of restrained movement, a cascade of words hinting at celestial navigation, perhaps? Curator: Note how Finlay arranges the words. The repetition of "star" creates a visual rhythm, almost mimicking the act of charting a course. Editor: I see that, but I’m drawn to the shift from "star" to "steer" at the base—it suggests agency, a conscious decision to guide, perhaps even control, one's destiny. Curator: Indeed, there's a tension between the fixed nature of a star and the active process of steering. The typography itself is clean, almost industrial. Editor: That starkness underscores the power dynamics at play—who gets to steer, and by what guiding lights? Curator: A potent question, considering Finlay’s interest in classical forms infused with contemporary meaning. Editor: It’s a compelling meditation on language, power, and the search for meaning within seemingly simple forms. Curator: I agree. It reveals the complexities hidden within the structure.