Swansea Chapel 1966

Editor: So, this is John Piper’s "Swansea Chapel." It’s striking how he’s layered print over print, almost obscuring the building itself. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The layering speaks to me. Piper’s choice of printmaking allows for reproduction and dispersal. Consider the social context: is he highlighting the chapel’s role within a community, or perhaps critiquing its accessibility through mass media? Editor: That’s interesting. It makes me think about the labour involved in both the building and the printmaking. Curator: Exactly! The materiality of the ink, the paper, and the building itself – all commodities within a larger economic system. What does that say about the chapel’s place in society? Editor: I never thought of it that way, seeing it as both a place of worship and part of a wider network of production. Curator: Thinking about materials and their journey can really change how we view art.