Untitled 2013

Editor: This is an untitled watercolor and drawing on paper by Bruno Jakob, created in 2013. It's deceptively simple, almost empty. The paper is pinned directly to the wall. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It is intriguing because of its apparent emptiness. In our current era, where visibility is often conflated with value and action, this "invisible art," invites a profound contemplation of absence, and of the systems and structures that often render things – and people – invisible. What do you see as the relationship between this 'invisibility' and its socio-political context? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. I was focused on the subtlety of the colors and textures, the delicate layering. Is it about resisting the spectacle, almost like a quiet act of defiance? Curator: Precisely! Jakob’s practice can be framed as a critique of visual culture. Think about who gets seen, who gets heard, whose stories are amplified, and conversely, who is silenced, ignored, or actively erased. This quiet piece performs its critique. How can art act as a powerful form of social commentary, even when it seems to be "saying" very little on the surface? Editor: So, it's not just an empty sheet of paper; it's prompting us to reflect on these broader social issues of power and visibility. The artist may be offering not just visual art, but an introspective social critique through their artistic vision. Curator: Indeed. The act of making visible the invisible becomes an act of resistance in itself, offering a space for viewers to reflect. The role of art extends beyond mere aesthetic experience, prompting essential conversations about who and what matters. Editor: This has totally changed my perspective on this piece! Thank you. I came looking to analyse an artwork and I left learning about its power.