Lip Plug 

Editor: We're looking at a wooden sculpture called "Lip Plug" from the Aztec culture, housed here at the Met. The shape is… well, abstract, geometric, almost like a flattened hat. What’s striking is how such a seemingly simple form could hold such significance. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This piece offers a powerful lens through which to view Aztec society, specifically through the lens of labor and consumption. Consider the carving of the wood. What tools were used? What level of skill did this demand? This wasn't mass production; it represents specialized craftsmanship. Editor: So, it’s less about the shape and more about how it was made? Curator: Precisely! Think about the social context. Who had access to this object? Lip plugs denoted status. So this seemingly abstract form speaks volumes about hierarchical social structures, about who was entitled to adorn their body in this way. We also must question the extraction and origin of this particular wood; how does that relate to power dynamics within the community, or with other communities? Editor: That makes me see it differently. It’s not just an object, it's a statement. Curator: And it’s a statement crafted from specific materials through specific labor practices that sustained social inequalities. Does focusing on its materiality make the art seem less… elevated? Perhaps that is a false separation we impose on it. Editor: Not at all. It actually makes it more profound. I mean, thinking about where it came from, how it was made, who could wear it, suddenly, it is brimming with meaning. I learned how materials are important to appreciate its role and what the artist tried to pass. Curator: And by deconstructing the layers of its materiality, we can access those intricate systems of meaning embedded within it. Thank you!