Astrophotography...The Traditional Measure of Photographic Speed in Astronomy...’ by Siegfried Marx (1987) 2006

Editor: This is Cerith Wyn Evans' stunning chandelier, titled "Astrophotography...The Traditional Measure of Photographic Speed in Astronomy..." I'm struck by the glasswork, all these Murano glass elements joined in this contemporary piece. What is your take on it? Curator: The materiality is key. It's a beautiful object, but consider the labor: the glassblowing, the assembly. How does the artist engage with the historical connotations of Murano glass production, its ties to Venetian trade and luxury, to comment on contemporary art consumption? Editor: So you're saying it's not just about the aesthetics, but the socio-economic context of its production? Curator: Precisely. By elevating this craft to "art," Wyn Evans challenges our definition of both. It forces us to confront the relationship between high art and the labor that creates it. Editor: That's a different way to look at it, I never thought about the means of production. Thank you. Curator: A pleasure. Thinking about the process changes everything.