Interlaced Hexagon 1967

Curator: I find myself getting a bit lost in the twists and turns of M.C. Escher's "Interlaced Hexagon," created in 1967. It’s a print, with such dynamic linework. My first impression? A cool sense of interwoven geometry, almost hypnotic in its repetition. Editor: That’s it, right? It feels like the op-art sensibility here is trying to lull you into questioning the very nature of visual experience. I am looking closely, though; this piece speaks to process, and even, in a way, labor. Think about it: meticulous planning and the physical act of carving those lines to make the print. Curator: You’re absolutely right to draw attention to that act of making, the labor. But the piece sings to me of more than mere mechanics. Escher had such a playful mind, don't you think? A delightful curiosity. Editor: I get the playful element, sure. And yet, when you look at these interlaced figures, I see the influence of industrial design creeping in. It’s not just geometry for geometry’s sake; this kind of pattern shows up in all sorts of manufacturing processes. I would really love to understand his use of materials better. What kind of paper, inks...? All would shift how we perceive this thing, and speak to labor even more. Curator: Agreed; knowing more about the physical production is a worthy direction. Still, allow yourself to be swept away for a moment by the conceptual art here, the illusion. The beauty of this abstraction is, it asks, what does any of it *mean*? It feels timeless, in its own peculiar way. Editor: Timeless, and maybe speaking to larger structures than intended by Escher. It makes me consider, what repetitive processes exist out there and go unnoticed that produce similar shapes, or ideas? How are these shapes not exceptional in nature? The production aspect here is critical! Curator: Critical indeed. It has me contemplating patterns in general, in our lives, our thinking... So yes, process is a lovely place to come back to with it. It makes it something different, more concrete, relatable somehow. Editor: Exactly. It brings it back down to earth and roots this in its making and production that made a vision possible, not just pure fancy. Thank you for this illuminating encounter.