Cut Out and Send 1968

Curator: Joe Tilson created "Cut Out and Send" in 1968. The piece, held in the Tate Collection, combines screen printing and collage elements on its large support. Editor: It has such a jarring juxtaposition! A woman's magnified face looms next to a rocket launch, the scissors below hinting at deconstruction. Curator: Tilson was interested in mass media’s effect on perception. Notice how he incorporates printing color tests, as if exposing the mechanics of image making. Editor: Yes, and that elevates what might be dismissed as mere Pop Art. The materials themselves become the message, questioning the slickness of consumer culture. Curator: The title points to the active role of the viewer – we're invited to literally cut and send, participating in this media landscape. Editor: It is a potent reminder of the hand in image creation. Thanks, I see it with fresh eyes. Curator: A worthwhile exchange, indeed.