The Imperator 2017

Curator: Joseph Pace's 2017 mixed-media sculpture, “The Imperator,” offers a striking profile. It's an assemblage using found objects and undoubtedly makes a statement. My immediate reaction is one of opulence and maybe even a touch of overwhelming visual information. What stands out to you? Editor: I’m drawn to the textures. All those beads, chains, and what looks like costume jewelry…the sheer amount of disparate materials the artist used to build this form. You can practically feel the weight and density of it, this accumulation of small, manufactured items transformed into a regal presence. Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about “The Imperator,” one has to consider the social implications embedded within. It calls to mind questions of power, gender and identity and the intersectional impact on people across global cultures. Editor: I'm also interested in how the artist’s process highlights value. By taking discarded or overlooked objects—broken bits and bobs, essentially the detritus of a consumer culture—and re-assembling them into this form, the artist elevates the mundane and forces us to consider where we assign value and why. Curator: I wonder too about the title itself. "Imperator" implies control and command. When viewed within a history of male domination of powerful roles, the artist could very well be raising essential questions on how history plays itself out again and again. The layering effect mirrors the heavy layers of history we drag along with us, shaping the present. Editor: I agree, but beyond a comment on power dynamics, the abundance of glitz begs the question: Is this sculpture a celebration of extravagance, or is it more of a cautionary spectacle that suggests overconsumption, almost as if “more” eventually obscures meaning? Curator: That's a brilliant observation. There is an inherent duality, as if to suggest that this very figure could be interpreted both ways—a king or queen weighted down by the very symbols meant to signify their high position. Perhaps the artist is subtly challenging how value is placed and understood in the art market itself. Editor: Ultimately, looking at “The Imperator,” it is more than just the figure; it is a powerful statement about the artistic process and how social norms interact with art and design. It’s a thought-provoking mix that’s both alluring and a little unnerving. Curator: Indeed, it’s a captivating artwork which makes me rethink long-held positions.