Meru II 1964

Editor: Here we have William Tucker's 'Meru II'—the Tate doesn't specify a date, but it's made of painted wood. It looks like a bizarre, monumental toy. What strikes you about the piece? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the construction process. Notice the interplay between the crafted and the seemingly mass-produced elements. How does this challenge conventional notions of sculpture, labor and what is considered 'art'? Editor: So, it's less about what it represents and more about how it was made and what the materials signify? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social implications of using industrial materials in such a playful, almost primitive form. What tensions does that create? Editor: It’s interesting to think about art in terms of labor and materials. It gives me a completely different perspective. Curator: Indeed. It's about understanding art as a product of specific processes and social conditions.