Untitled #1 2005

Hans Haacke created this wood sculpture to comment on labor and social issues. The artist used reclaimed wood from a furniture factory, possibly including timber offcuts. The materials are humble. The processes are rudimentary, and reminiscent of basic construction. He lets the material speak for itself, showing its age and wear, and the work needed to transform it into a functional object. The labor and class connotations of this are clear. Haacke is spotlighting the labor that often goes unnoticed, the processes of production and consumption in our capitalist society. He asks us to consider the social context embedded within the materials and the making. By emphasizing these often-overlooked aspects, Haacke challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, asking us to consider the value and meaning found in everyday materials and processes.