Self Portrait Possibly 1981 - 1992

Editor: So, this is Robert Mapplethorpe's "Self Portrait" from, well, we don't have a date for it. What strikes me is the heavy leather jacket; it's almost sculptural. What do you see in the materials and textures here? Curator: The leather is key. Its production involves specific labor, from tanning to stitching. Think about the social context of leather jackets, their association with counter-culture and rebellion, and how Mapplethorpe uses that readymade meaning. How does this elevate the material of the jacket? Editor: So it's not just about the image, but also about what the jacket *represents* and how it was made? That's interesting. Curator: Precisely. The means of production and the social associations of the materials themselves are integral to understanding the work. Considering the materials allows us to connect to the making. I've certainly learned something new. Editor: Me too.