7. SUNgleam 1968

Editor: This is "7. SUNgleam" by Esq Peter Phillips, from around 1967. It's held at the Tate. The way the car parts are layered over that colorful background is fascinating! What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a collision of symbols. The car, an icon of American progress and freedom, is dissected and recontextualized against a ground of almost psychedelic color. Editor: Psychedelic? Curator: Notice the repeating pattern; how each unit contains primary colors clustered in threes, which could represent the CMY color model used in printing. This reflects a visual culture saturated with advertising. The "SUN" in the title is also interesting. What do you think the artist might be implying? Editor: Maybe that even pleasure and freedom, like a fast car, are manufactured and commodified? Curator: Precisely. The work reminds us of how symbols, especially those tied to progress, can be both alluring and deceptive. Editor: I never considered how deeply intertwined commercialism is with our idea of freedom. Thanks!