HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT 1992

Curator: Duane Hanson’s striking sculpture, "High School Student," created in 1992, gives us pause. What is your initial reaction? Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by the… ordinary quality, it's visually interesting—his forlorn gaze downwards, the casual yet tense pose. The textures too, the almost garish T-shirt print contrasts with the mundane scuffed shoes. There's a careful balance. Curator: And this ordinariness is precisely the point. Hanson was deeply engaged with Social Realism, and his sculptures were often critiques of American society, specifically consumer culture and the post-war generation's disillusionment. He elevated the everyday. Editor: I can see it now. But let’s talk about technique—the sculpture appears so life-like; the colouration, and how these textural elements add layers of meaning. How does this commitment to reality affect the way we, as viewers, engage with the artwork? Curator: The commitment to realism serves as a commentary on the "everyman". In this work Hanson highlights issues concerning adolescence within society at that time. Note the specific details--the t-shirt which mirrors popular teen counter culture, a time where many found themselves lost in what the world was offering. By elevating an anonymous figure to the status of art, Hanson pushes us to consider those often overlooked in society. Editor: You are right--those details really point to a deeper symbolic understanding of the artist intention. I’m curious to hear the response from the public; do they see themselves, and maybe even their teenage years, mirrored here? The hyperrealism could encourage self reflection, and a moment for viewers to analyse youth culture. Curator: It is Hanson’s lasting influence and commentary that we see so perfectly replicated. This piece acts as both a snapshot and mirror. A critical observation on adolescence during a period of societal evolution. Editor: The lasting effect really pushes you to reconsider our current socio-political lens. Seeing this ordinary individual makes this work a great modern study in sculptural composition.