Excess #274 2015

Curator: Looking at this mixed-media sculpture titled "Excess #274," made by Kaloust Guedel in 2015, I am struck by its composition. Editor: Yes, the way the acrylic paint on these combined materials evokes a kind of collapsing monument is instantly gripping, if unsettling. There's a definite feeling of things being off-kilter, teetering, about to spill over. Curator: Exactly. I read the "excess" in the title through the lens of late-stage capitalism, consumer culture run rampant. It makes me think of theories around planned obsolescence and waste. This work could be understood as a poignant comment on our unsustainable habits and their long-term consequences for the planet. Editor: That resonates deeply, particularly with the heavy presence of brown. Is it evocative of discarded materials or possibly even something more ominous related to climate change? Furthermore, does this potentially touch upon issues related to environmental justice as we examine the socioeconomic implications related to our access to materials. Curator: Absolutely. It seems Guedel is drawing inspiration from postmodernism, engaging in visual abstraction to invite social commentary, prompting us to contemplate themes of excess and societal structures. We have this tension between form and materials—these angular shapes versus the connotations of decay and overindulgence. Editor: Thinking about Guedel's intentions, perhaps we should acknowledge this in relation to art as commodity; are we displaying an intentional "defacing" of art norms when showcasing something made from likely low-value materials? It certainly would provoke thought in art and cultural circles regarding who this work is targeting as its viewers. Curator: Yes, that brings the role of art institutions and the consumption of art itself into question. How do these spaces shape our understanding of value and disposability? This work compels us to dissect that and its relationship with politics. Editor: It all leads to a rather crucial self-reflective state regarding who has the means to interpret this work and further dissect the societal structures in place which give Guedel's message such weight in modern abstraction. Curator: In conclusion, this mixed-media sculpture not only questions artistic forms but also prompts an evaluation of cultural consumption and global impact. Editor: A grim, though powerful, tableau of postmodern anxieties.