Hunter 1976

Editor: Here we have Peter Phillips' 1976 mixed-media collage, "Hunter." There's a lot to unpack here, with imagery that feels both natural and mechanical all at once. It's giving me this strange sense of manufactured nostalgia. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Manufactured nostalgia… I love that! It’s as if Phillips is rummaging through the attic of the collective unconscious of the '70s. It's all about the aesthetic of that era, those rainbow gradients clashing delightfully with hyper-real engine cross-sections and a stoic hound. Think about the era: the tail end of Pop Art, a fascination with technology, but also a lingering connection to the "good old days" and nature. Tell me, does this collage give you any clues on how Phillips connects the mechanical and natural elements? Editor: Well, the composition is very structured. It almost feels like a blueprint. Then you have these very realistic renderings, like the dog, placed next to completely deconstructed machine parts. I'm struggling to find a narrative thread here… is there one? Curator: Perhaps the absence of a clear narrative is the point. The "Hunter" title suggests pursuit, doesn't it? Maybe he is hunting for a synthesis between the organic and inorganic. Phillips almost dares us to find a logical connection where none readily exists, mirroring the increasingly fragmented experience of modern life itself. Are we pursuing technological advancement at the expense of nature? Editor: That makes so much sense! So it is less about hunting prey and more about the hunt for meaning, or perhaps reconciliation? Curator: Exactly! The playful colour palette almost disguises the depth of that question, doesn't it? It lured us in and forced us to face the questions on this subject, under its vibrant colors. Editor: I’ll definitely think of that manufactured nostalgia differently now! Thank you!