Desire 1985 - 1986

Editor: This is John Gibbons' sculpture "Desire," a tall cabinet made of mixed materials. The starkness of the piece makes me think about the societal pressures surrounding the pursuit of success. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a critique of capitalist desires. The cabinet, an object meant for storage and display, becomes a metaphor for the commodification of aspirations. Does the emptiness within the structure suggest a hollowness at the heart of consumer culture? Editor: That's a really interesting point! It makes me think about how we're constantly told we need more to be fulfilled. Curator: Precisely. Gibbons seems to be asking us to consider the structures that perpetuate these desires and the emptiness that may lie beneath them. Editor: I'll definitely be thinking about that next time I'm tempted to buy something I don't need! Curator: Indeed, it serves as a potent reminder of the systems at play.