Lamp Black 

Editor: This is Lamp Black, manufactured by Cabot. It’s presented with a color chart and a checkerboard grayscale. What can we understand about this singular object, Lamp Black? Curator: Well, let's consider what "blackness" signifies historically. Think about the ways in which black pigments, and the cultures that create them, have been perceived and represented. Is "black" an absence, or a powerful presence? Editor: So, you are thinking of race and representation? Curator: Exactly. The label "Lamp Black" and the manufactured nature of the object invites us to consider how art is both material and concept. Does this object challenge our preconceived notions? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, but I see how the history of art materials reflects much larger social issues. Curator: Indeed. It encourages a vital dialogue.