We cannot change unless we survive but we will not survive unless we change 1983

Curator: Standing before us is “We cannot change unless we survive but we will not survive unless we change,” a thought-provoking print crafted in 1983 by Maigen Elske. It now resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Immediately, the high contrast hits you, black and white, stark. There's this looming sense of… urgency, punctuated by those slashes of red, almost like warnings. Curator: Elske’s work really throws us into the deep end, doesn't it? The statement itself is so cyclical, a paradox wrapped in necessity, exploring themes of survival and adaptability, a sentiment maybe particularly relevant to the political landscape of the early 80s. Editor: Exactly. And how that typography visually reinforces the message is critical! The somewhat frantic, hand-rendered lettering contrasts dramatically with the stark geometric outline of the hourglass, lending this impression of struggle between order and chaos, a crisis in process. Curator: Right, the hourglass becomes a loaded symbol! Is it about time running out? Or perhaps, the potential for renewal? Editor: I lean toward the former, I must say! The sparseness only enhances its pointed statement. It almost reminds one of Barbara Kruger's way to deconstruct messages using bold fonts. Curator: That comparison is interesting. It speaks to how visual language can condense and amplify anxieties present at the time. I appreciate that the piece isn’t overly didactic, yet it challenges viewers to look inwards and question their own agency. Editor: It really stays with you. Its visual economy really forces a sustained pondering over our societal trajectory, an invitation of reflection using just few visual element, and a pretty clear structure and color scheme. Curator: I think its simplicity makes it all the more affecting. Editor: Definitely an example of conceptual art's finest achievements; the impact clearly stems from its ability to resonate so directly, so poetically.