Dedicated to the Unknown Artists 1972 - 1976

Curator: This is Susan Hiller's "Dedicated to the Unknown Artists," a series of framed works featuring postcards of waves crashing on the British coast. Editor: My first thought is that it’s a fascinating study in repetition, yet each image seems slightly different. A bit haunting, actually. Curator: Hiller collected these postcards, focusing on the recurring motif of the sea. What's interesting is her highlighting of the anonymous creators, ordinary photographers capturing these scenes. Editor: It speaks to the democratization of art, doesn't it? And the commodification of nature. The postcards, originally mass-produced and sold, are elevated here. Curator: Precisely. Hiller draws attention to the social function of these images, their role in shaping our perception of landscape and tourism. Editor: Placing value on the everyday experiences of marginalized perspectives by making art from their ephemera. It's an important reminder of who gets to create culture, and what we consider worthy of preservation. Curator: Indeed, a powerful commentary on art, society, and the unseen labor behind creating our shared visual culture. Editor: I am leaving here thinking about who shapes our collective memory.