Untitled (Little shoe) 1968

Curator: This is Marisa Merz’s "Untitled (Little Shoe)," held in the Tate Collections. It strikes me as a fragile, ethereal object. Editor: It does seem incredibly delicate. Looking at Merz's wider practice, and the Arte Povera movement of the time, I see this work as a quiet subversion. Curator: In what way? Editor: It counters the grand narratives of male artists. The small scale, the humble material—likely crocheted copper wire—it speaks to feminine labor, intimacy, and perhaps even domesticity. Curator: I agree, and knowing Merz often resisted straightforward interpretations, it offers us a glimpse into her personal iconography and challenges traditional power structures within art. Editor: Precisely. It's a small object, but it echoes with powerful ideas about gender and artistic value. Curator: A poignant reminder of the quiet revolutions that shaped contemporary art. Editor: Indeed, its unassuming presence invites us to question established canons.