Collective Red 1998

Editor: Here we have "Collective Red" by Arsen Savadov, made in 1998, captured through photography, it appears to document a performance piece. The red color is overwhelming, almost visceral. How do you interpret the materiality and context of this work? Curator: The abundance of blood – literal or figurative – points to the raw, often brutal materials and processes involved in meat production and the societal implications tied to it. The bodies, costuming, the industrial setting – all elements perform a critical function, shedding light on how power structures manifest in consumer culture and the division of labor. Editor: So, beyond the immediate shock, you see it as a commentary on the processes behind our food and, perhaps, larger systems? Curator: Precisely. Think about the location itself – is it a slaughterhouse? The labor performed there, usually hidden from view, becomes a focal point. The bullfighter's costume is rich in material, highlighting the consumption of meat and spectacle. What meaning can we derive from its location within this butchery? Editor: I hadn't considered the theatrical aspect within the slaughterhouse's brutal reality. The high art meets, almost literally, the gut. Does Savadov do other art that tackles material production so directly? Curator: He does. He’s interested in examining societal structures and material realities. This photograph prompts viewers to reconsider not just their consumption habits but also their relationship to labor and the means of production more broadly. The performance emphasizes these connections. Editor: I see. So the impact really comes from making the process visible, not just the final product. It reframes how we engage with the artwork itself, and challenges the divide between art and the processes that sustain daily life. Curator: Exactly, an artistic gesture that lays bare the raw materials of our existence and challenges conventional value systems.