Print 5 1974

Editor: So, this is "Print 5" by Richard Smith, no date is listed. It’s held at the Tate and appears to be some sort of print. The staples holding it all together really strike me. What's your take on it? Curator: The visible means of production are central here. The staples, the exposed process, challenge the traditional notion of a pristine, finished artwork. It emphasizes the labor and materials involved in its creation. Editor: That's interesting. So, it's about showing the "how" as much as the "what"? Curator: Precisely. Smith draws attention to the physical act of making art, blurring the lines between high art and the everyday materials of construction. Editor: I never thought about it that way, it's cool how the staples become part of the statement. Curator: It certainly invites us to consider the social and economic context of art production.