Separation 1965

Curator: Peter Startup's sculpture, simply titled "Separation," presents an immediate impression of fragmented solidity. Editor: The repetitive modular construction using wood and an earthy orange paint reminds me of mass production and prefab housing. What’s the history here? Curator: Startup often reclaimed discarded materials from building sites. This piece highlights the labor involved in construction, almost like an archeological dig of modern building techniques. Editor: But consider the formal aspects: the breaks and gaps, the echoing shapes that aren’t quite symmetrical. This disrupts the sense of function, turning structural elements into purely aesthetic ones. Curator: True, the rough edges and visible joints contrast sharply with the smooth, seemingly flawless surfaces of mass-produced items. It is a deliberate act of exposing the means of production. Editor: Perhaps. The repetition creates rhythm, while the separations allow for light and shadow play. Curator: An apt reminder of how a critical examination of materials reveals social and artistic histories. Editor: Indeed, it's the interplay of form and material that gives the work its power.