[no title: No. 6] 1987

Editor: Here we have Per Kirkeby's abstract print, "[no title: No. 6]" from the Tate Collection. The layering of colours and textures is really striking. What do you see in the material qualities of this work? Curator: Consider Kirkeby’s process here. The woodcut medium, the labour involved in carving the block, the pressure exerted to transfer the image - are crucial. Does this layering enhance or obscure the history of its making? Editor: It definitely feels like the process is very present. You can see each layer. Does this connect to the shift in value away from the 'unique' artwork? Curator: Precisely! The emphasis shifts from the final image to the means of production, opening possibilities for mass production and challenging traditional art hierarchies. I find that fascinating, don’t you? Editor: Absolutely. It's exciting to consider the social implications of focusing on process over preciousness. Thanks for the perspective. Curator: My pleasure. There's so much to explore when we consider art's relationship to labour and materials.