Visible World 1997

Curator: These three monitors showing idyllic nature scenes comprise "Visible World" by Peter Fischli. There's something about these commonplace landscapes presented on outmoded technology that feels poignant. Editor: There is a definite contrast between the serene images and the bulky monitors, which feels very self-aware. The older technology gives a sense of nostalgia, almost like windows into past memories. Curator: That resonance with memory certainly plays into it. The screens offer a glimpse of a world outside the institutional architecture. Fischli seems to be commenting on the very act of viewing. Editor: These landscapes could be anywhere, yet each seems imbued with unique feeling. The sunset, the harbor, the mountains... archetypes of beauty, viewed through the lens of technology. Curator: And, of course, Fischli, like many artists of his generation, uses technology to explore art's role in contemporary culture and its influence on our perceptions of nature. Editor: It gives a powerful sense of the ubiquity of these images, and their cultural significance. We are reminded of the enduring power of nature, but we see it through a mediated lens.