SPHERES OF INFLUENCE 1990

Editor: This drawing, "Spheres of Influence" by Lawrence Weiner, uses graphite and colored pencil. It's quite diagrammatic, almost like a blueprint. What do you see in this piece regarding its making and meaning? Curator: Well, Weiner often challenged traditional art production by focusing on language and instructions. Here, the simple materials emphasize the conceptual act – the idea becoming the art. The spheres themselves, intersecting, suggest the overlapping systems of labor, production, and even exploitation. How does that sit with you? Editor: It makes sense, especially thinking about his interest in democratizing art. So, the means of production being so accessible is key. I hadn't considered the implication of exploitation though. Thanks! Curator: Exactly. Considering Weiner’s materials as a conscious choice to engage with the social framework of production helps unpack the work.