Drawing from the Model 1972

Editor: This is Richard Pinkney's "Drawing from the Model," currently in the Tate Collections. It uses bold black-and-white graphics alongside a text about someone playing their "GONG song." The graphic elements remind me of circuit boards. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see an engagement with the material conditions of image production, specifically in the context of post-industrial society. Note how the geometric forms mimic not only circuit boards but also musical notation and typographic systems. This suggests a blurring of boundaries between technology, art, and everyday experience. Editor: So it's not just about aesthetics, but about how it was made and what influenced its making? Curator: Precisely. The artist uses accessible materials and production methods to challenge traditional notions of artistic skill and value. Think about the labor involved in creating such a seemingly simple, yet conceptually rich, work. Editor: That’s a good point. I hadn’t thought about the connection between labor and the final design of this work. Thanks!