Against Interpretation 2012

Editor: Here we have Linder's "Against Interpretation," a photomontage from 2012 using gouache, ink and collage. It features a ballerina whose head has been replaced with a basket filled with cherry-topped cookies. I'm struck by the jarring juxtaposition, the soft pinks of the tutu against the almost aggressively mundane cookies. What draws your eye in this work? Curator: Primarily, I'm drawn to the formal tension established through contrasting textures and forms. Consider the smooth, almost ethereal quality of the ballerina's costume against the rougher, more tactile rendering of the cookies and basket. Editor: So you see the materials and textures as being key to understanding the piece? Curator: Precisely. Note also the sharp, almost brutal, interruption of the body created through this substitution. The classical ballet pose and soft costume clash spectacularly with the overt and somewhat vulgar presentation of these sweet baked goods, creating an undeniable compositional rupture. How does this fragmentation contribute to your understanding of the artwork's effect? Editor: I suppose the contrast really underscores how unexpected the image is. I hadn’t considered that formal aspect before. Curator: Indeed. We also observe Linder's deployment of vibrant colors—the deep reds and browns—drawing the eye. Further, we see how she disrupts notions of elegance and grace by introducing elements of commercialism into a high-art context. It pushes against our comfort and aesthetic expectation, would you agree? Editor: Definitely! I see it now. So by analyzing the texture and colours we get to better understand how Linder makes a point about the commodification of ballet and dancers? Curator: That's a plausible interpretation. Observing these formal choices closely reveals her approach of disrupting conventions and opening up multiple possibilities of discourse. Thank you, this conversation has prompted a more meticulous consideration of the artist's formal methodology. Editor: And I have gained a greater appreciation for the complexities and possibilities present when reading a work through a strictly visual language.