Never Backwards 1994

Curator: Here we have Deimantas Narkevicius’s object, "Never Backwards," currently residing in the Tate Collections. It strikes me as a strangely muted sculpture. Editor: It certainly has an odd feeling, something almost melancholic. The bars evoke a sense of confinement, but the pale color palette softens the impact. Curator: Narkevicius, born in 1964, often explores themes of memory and the weight of history through his works. This piece, I think, uses the form of a child’s crib as a potent symbol. Editor: A crib implies innocence and beginnings, but the title "Never Backwards" suggests resistance to regression, a kind of forced march forward. The olive green end, so different from the wood, feels significant. Curator: Perhaps the green is a marker of change, contrasting with the natural wood that may represent tradition. It points to the tensions between the past and the desired trajectory of the future. Editor: It's a subtle dialogue between comfort and constraint, isn’t it? Curator: Precisely, it's an invitation to consider how societal progress impacts individual experience. Editor: The piece definitely leaves a lasting impression. It is sparse and evocative.