CUT UP 2020

Editor: Right, so this is Jason Limon's *CUT UP* from 2020, created with mixed-media. The slightly melancholic skeleton with its party hat really jumps out. What I find really intriguing is how the artist creates a worn-out and vintage effect, while the skull motif juxtaposed with the star decoration has a dark humor to it. What do you make of it? Curator: Looking at *CUT UP*, I'm struck by how Limon plays with materiality and production. The 'mixed media' tag is key. Is it paint simulating collage? Is there actual collage layered to build this decaying surface? Notice how the surface implies the processes involved - a commercial package with an emotional interior. The image appears distressed; printed words "LET ME OUT," the torn bits around the box suggest themes of confinement and escape. We see consumer waste. Editor: That's interesting, thinking about it in terms of commercial packaging. What do the scissors in the skeleton’s hands signify, considering the plea? Curator: The golden scissors are central. How do these tools enter our commodity streams? The contrast of material between cardboard, paper, the rendering of light on metallic substance--Limon uses texture to amplify our ideas around art and labour, blurring the boundary between popular culture and so-called ‘high art’. Who created these items; cardboard, stars, and shears. How is the skeleton being represented, what labor has it undertaken? Editor: So you are less focused on an art historical narrative? Curator: Not simply a formal relationship. Instead of style, I consider the material life of *CUT UP*. From initial conception, creation to the afterlife of art sales and meaning; this engages a complex socio-economic journey! Editor: This reframing gives me so much to think about when encountering other contemporary artwork that blends recognizable cultural references. Curator: Agreed! Hopefully we've demonstrated how considering the materiality and processes behind artwork creation can be transformative.