Tactile Object (Hand) 1970

Editor: This is Paul Neagu's "Tactile Object (Hand)," a wooden box sculpture in the Tate collection. It reminds me a bit of a reliquary. What role do you think institutions like Tate play in shaping how we understand this artwork? Curator: It's interesting you see a reliquary. The Tate, by acquiring and displaying this, certainly elevates its status, framing it within a narrative of artistic innovation. Neagu's Romanian background and his experience under a totalitarian regime also come into play. How do you think that context might affect the work's meaning? Editor: Perhaps it represents a longing for free expression, a message hidden in plain sight. Curator: Exactly. The handprint on the outside could be interpreted as a symbol of agency, while the concealed hand within suggests a need for secrecy and protection. Editor: That makes me think about how the gallery space itself becomes a stage for these hidden narratives. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It highlights how institutions can both reveal and conceal the complex layers of meaning within a work.