Paisagem Intima 8 2004

Editor: So, here we have Alberto Carneiro's "Paisagem Intima 8" from 2004. It's a sculpture made of found wood. It's really interesting how something so simple feels so considered. What do you see in it? Curator: For me, the allure lies in the very material – the wood. Think about its history before Carneiro found it. What was it? Where did it come from? Was it driftwood, shaped by the ocean’s currents and then reclaimed, given new value through artistic labour? Or maybe the leftovers from furniture production? It really invites us to reflect on the life cycle of objects and our relationship with consumption. Editor: That's interesting. I hadn’t really considered the previous existence of the wood itself. It almost feels like he’s commenting on the relationship between nature and industry. Curator: Exactly! By placing this transformed object in a gallery setting, he challenges the traditional hierarchy between art and craft, inviting us to acknowledge the inherent beauty and significance in everyday materials and labor of working with the material. Do you think this piece could even be interpreted as a political act, challenging the capitalist structures that dictate value? Editor: That's a big question. I guess it’s about assigning worth outside of monetary value. I’d never considered a sculpture could do so much. Curator: Carneiro makes you rethink what constitutes 'art' and the social and economic forces that underpin our perceptions. Editor: This conversation has definitely changed how I'll look at sculpture from now on! Curator: Me too; considering materiality as a statement on the production process, rather than only looking for inherent symbolism, will broaden my curatorial approach.