Konzentration von elementarfarben 1965

Editor: This is Max Bill's "Konzentration von Elementarfarben" from 1965, executed in acrylic paint. The diamond shape and bold primary colors are striking. How would you interpret the piece? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the process. Acrylic paint allowed for these incredibly flat, uniform surfaces. Consider the labor involved in achieving that perfection, the meticulous taping and layering. How does this pursuit of flawless execution relate to the socio-economic context of post-war industrialization and consumerism? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn’t thought about the connection to consumerism. The colors themselves seem so…pure, almost manufactured. Curator: Exactly! Bill's work exists within a lineage of artists challenging the separation between high art and design. The materials themselves, mass-produced and readily available, become crucial signifiers. The question is, what kind of commodity does this become in its perfection? And who had access to these materials? Editor: So, the very act of creating such a clean, precise artwork using commercially produced materials is making a statement? Curator: Precisely. The materiality is the message. It reflects the increasing accessibility, yet also the inherent standardization, of the world around him. Where does individual expression fit into that system, or does it? Editor: It really changes my perspective to consider the "making of" as the core of the meaning rather than seeking symbolic representations. Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to interrogate the broader material conditions that make art possible. I think this work shows an attention to form, but equally to industrial processes that inform its assembly. Editor: I will never look at this the same way. Thank you! Curator: Likewise; it is the act of engaging critically that brings the true essence to life.