Untitled 1983

Editor: Here we have Jannis Kounellis's untitled work, date unknown, held in the Tate collection. It's a mixed media piece and I am interested in the juxtaposition of the black void against the carefully rendered stone texture. What's your take on this work? Curator: Considering Kounellis's interest in Arte Povera, I would suggest looking at this work in terms of its materials and the labor involved. The contrast isn’t just visual. How do the humble materials of the stone, likely sourced locally, interact with the stark, industrial black? Editor: So, you are saying it's not just about the image, but about the physical reality of its making? Curator: Precisely. Kounellis often used commonplace materials to challenge the preciousness associated with art. This is a dialogue between process and product. Think about the social context, the implications of labor and value. Editor: I never considered the work in terms of labor before. Curator: By understanding the production, we question the traditional boundaries between art and craft, high and low. Food for thought, isn’t it? Editor: Definitely. I see it in a completely new light now. Thank you!