Sailing Dinghy 1996

Editor: Here we have Ian Hamilton Finlay's *Sailing Dinghy,* housed at the Tate. I’m struck by the craftsmanship; you can almost feel the hands that shaped it. What story does this object tell you? Curator: It's fascinating how Finlay elevates the labor inherent in boat building. The 'clinker-built copper-fastened' aspect isn't just descriptive, it highlights the means of production, blurring the lines between art object and functional craft. Editor: So, it's about the process as much as the final form? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context too – the history of sailing, the labor involved, even the consumption of leisure associated with it. It challenges the traditional art hierarchy. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered; I was too focused on its aesthetic appeal. Thank you.