12. Refreshing and Delicious 1972

Curator: This visual feast is entitled *12. Refreshing and Delicious*, by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, held within the Tate Collections. The dimensions are roughly 378 by 281mm. What's your initial impression? Editor: My first thought is that this feels like a cut-and-paste dream, all bright colors and enticing textures. I wonder about Paolozzi's process here. Curator: The imagery draws heavily on post-war American advertising—Cola-Cola, Kool-Aid—symbols of consumer culture that rapidly permeated global consciousness. It's a real archive of desire! Editor: Precisely! The choice of these mass-produced images speaks volumes about the rising tide of consumerism and the artist's commentary on the seductive power of these brands. Curator: It seems to be a critical assessment of the aspirational imagery of the time, especially in light of rationing and post-war austerity in Britain. Editor: It makes me think about the materials used, their availability and expense at the time, and how Paolozzi subverts their original context to create this dialogue. Curator: Indeed, a fascinating intersection of consumption, desire, and cultural symbols. Editor: The artwork compels us to reflect on the material underpinnings of our desires and the narratives woven around them.