11 Panes 2004

Editor: This is Gerhard Richter's "11 Panes," a monumental glass sculpture in the Tate collection. Its size is striking, but it's the reflective quality of the glass that really draws me in. What do you make of its materiality? Curator: Richter's choice of industrial glass disrupts traditional notions of artistic skill, doesn't it? The reflection implicates the viewer, collapsing the space between art object and consumer. What does it mean to see yourself within this architectural echo? Editor: So, it's not just about the image reflected, but also about the viewer's role in completing the artwork? Curator: Precisely. The panes highlight the industrial processes, moving away from subjective expression and instead examining the means of production. The weight and scale speak to the labor involved. Editor: I hadn't considered the labor aspect so directly. Thanks! Curator: The devil is always in the details of its production, isn't it?