[no title] 1995

Editor: This small image by Robert Therrien features what appears to be a black bow tie, roughly drawn. It’s so simple, almost childlike. What do you see in the process of its making? Curator: I’m interested in the labor. The repetitive mark-making used to build up the tone, the pressure exerted by the artist's hand. Was this a study for a larger work, a commercial piece, or something more personal? Editor: That's fascinating! So you're thinking about the context of its production, not just the image itself. Curator: Exactly. The materiality of the paper, the charcoal or ink, and the social implications of Therrien’s choice to engage in this kind of process. It challenges the traditional hierarchy of art forms. Editor: I never thought about it that way before, I’ll need to rethink how I approach this artwork. Curator: Consider the labor. Materiality always tells a story.