Ingomar Gruenauer: Die Mutter 1990

Editor: Here we have Ingomar Gruenauer's "Die Mutter," or "The Mother," from 1990. It's striking, a poster with acrylic paint seemingly conveying intense emotion. What strikes me is the raw application of paint. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Notice how the image almost denies any classical artistic canon and its focus on materials foregrounds its creation. It’s printed matter but is simultaneously gesturing towards an act of painting; labor becomes blurred. What message does that contradiction carry? Editor: I suppose it makes me consider the many hands involved - not just the artist, but also the printer, the distributor... the audience. Curator: Precisely. And consider its purpose – a theatrical advertisement produced en masse. Does this mass production devalue the 'aura' of the artwork, or democratize it, bringing art into daily life? Editor: That’s a challenging question. Perhaps both are true to an extent, raising issues around commodification of art, no? Curator: Absolutely. We must confront how its function shapes the experience, even perception, of it. It makes you question assumptions about the creation, ownership, and accessibility inherent in artistic processes, don't you think? Editor: Yes, I do. Considering the print's materiality gives it so much more resonance. Thanks for that insight. Curator: And thinking about these aspects definitely made me look closer as well.