Digit III 2002

Editor: Here we have Gloria Ortiz-Hernandez’s "Digit III," a square of subtle gradations. It's almost ethereal. What materials were used to create such a delicate effect? Curator: Considering a materialist perspective, I'd say the key here lies less in identifying the specific medium and more in appreciating the labor invested in achieving this effect. Imagine the countless, repetitive gestures required to build up this field of tone. What does this repetitive process evoke for you? Editor: A sense of meditative labor. It makes me think about the value placed on the handmade in our digital age. Curator: Precisely. It prompts a reflection on the artist's process and the social context of artistic production, questioning what constitutes "skill" and "value" in art. Editor: This has given me a new way to appreciate the artist's work. Curator: Me too! It is always rewarding to analyze process and labor in artmaking.