Index: The Studio at 3 Wesley Place, in the Dark (IV), and Illuminated by an Explosion nearby (VI) 1982

Curator: Oh, this is intriguing. There's such a strong feeling of unease, almost claustrophobia from the darkness. Is it meant to feel this unsettling? Editor: It’s hard not to feel disturbed. Art & Language, in collaboration with Mel Ramsden, created this piece titled "Index: The Studio at 3 Wesley Place, in the Dark (IV), and Illuminated by an Explosion nearby (VI)." Curator: An explosion! Of course. I see the...disrupted space, the frenetic energy. The palette of blues and greens creates a strange visual tension. Is it a studio under siege? Editor: Perhaps metaphorically? The title suggests a document or record, while the imagery alludes to conflict, artistic production, and the power of external forces to disrupt the artist's space. Curator: Do you think the "explosion" is literal? Or is it the explosion of ideas, perhaps a creative breakthrough? Editor: I think that reading is valid. Given Art & Language's interest in challenging institutional norms, the explosion could very well be a challenge to the status quo. Curator: The layering is impressive, I wonder about the process, the methods they used to achieve this effect. It evokes a sense of urgency and the struggle inherent in the creative process. Editor: It makes you wonder, doesn't it, about who and what art is really for. Curator: It does, indeed. It's a reminder that art and life are inextricably linked, especially during times of upheaval. Editor: Precisely. And how the personal and the political always intersect.