[no title] 1978

Editor: Here we have an untitled work by John Piper. It seems to be ink and wash on paper. The warm sepia tones give it such an antiquated feeling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a fascinating interplay between high art and the processes of its making. Look at the sketch-like quality and the deliberate reveal of the medium's texture. How does this exposure of process challenge traditional notions of artistic skill and labor? Editor: That's so interesting. It's almost like he's showing us the 'behind the scenes' of art creation. Curator: Precisely! And by doing so, Piper democratizes the artistic process. He's not just presenting a finished product, but inviting us to consider the material and the labor involved in its creation. Editor: I never thought of it that way, but now I see how the materiality becomes part of the message. Curator: Indeed. The medium is the message, quite literally, in this case.