-A Whale of a Bank- still bank 1975

Curator: Let’s explore this whimsical piece titled "-A Whale of a Bank- still bank" crafted by George Knerr in 1975. Editor: Immediately, I see it as a surprisingly weighty object. The materiality of ceramic against such a playful form… it introduces an interesting tension. Curator: Indeed. The artist chose ceramic, imbuing a typically fragile material with connotations of saving, value, and potentially even the fragility of financial institutions, and consumerism. How do those interweave here? Editor: Considering the title, I see it as a direct, slightly satirical commentary on banking. This decorative-art object employs its production process to literally embody and challenge concepts around wealth. It also draws parallels between children's toys, domesticity, and broader financial systems. Curator: Fascinating, given its decorative art styling and time period; 1975 marks a point of significant transformation in banking deregulation. To present the whale then as an economic container implicates that cultural moment with shifts in capitalist thinking and consumption patterns. Editor: Absolutely, and the artist’s hand in shaping and inscribing these objects reflects on the labour involved in creating this commentary. By elevating what could be simply a commercially-produced toy into an individually-crafted piece, there’s an argument here to critique mass consumption culture. Curator: It becomes an emblem then for both potential individual autonomy in an evolving landscape as well as being engulfed by corporate processes, a symbol that invites considering our complicated relationships with institutions and finances. Editor: I concur, this whimsical object reveals how everyday pieces can participate within greater cultural forces shaping society itself! Curator: Reflecting upon George Knerr's clever composition and knowing choices certainly broadens one's appreciation for something that appears so simple!