Lick Me, Lick Me 2016

Curator: Well, the stark presentation certainly commands attention. This piece, created in 2016, is titled "Lick Me, Lick Me" by Danh Vō. Editor: An immediate dichotomy presents itself. I observe a formal arrangement: the cool, metallic lines of what seems to be a refrigerated display case juxtaposed against roughly hewn, fragmented forms in both its interior and on its surface. Curator: Indeed, Vō often employs found objects, assemblage, and mixed media in his installations and sculptures. He has layered salvaged artifacts into complex narratives exploring themes of identity and history. In "Lick Me, Lick Me," these fragments embody echoes of past meanings, layered against the contemporary sterility. Editor: Semiotically, the display case speaks of preservation and commodification. The broken marble atop – its relief details hinting at a forgotten opulence – feels tragically displaced. The smaller piece housed within adds a curious asymmetry. What cultural weight does it carry? Curator: The fragments are remnants of European antiquity, likely imbued with narratives of power, artistry, and empire. Vō presents them divorced from their original context, questioning their present-day value and resonance. Editor: The title seems to force a playful yet uneasy engagement with the work. An invitation, perhaps, to consume the relics of the past? Is it meant to be ironic, cynical, or genuine in its longing? The formal qualities alone create a tension that mirrors that ambiguity. The harsh lines and coldness serve as both a pedestal and a barrier, urging reflection but perhaps discouraging connection. Curator: I believe that it speaks to the complicated, sometimes unsettling desire to connect with and appropriate history, to render something both sacred and mundane simultaneously. Editor: Quite a fascinating interplay! I appreciate how the juxtaposition of materials and forms encourages reflection. It’s left me wondering what stories are embedded, obscured, or lost within the stones themselves.