CAMERA OBSCURA 1959

Bruce Conner’s assemblage, Camera Obscura, is made from mixed media, stuck inside a box. It's like a peek into another dimension. Conner was all about process, and you can totally see it here. It's not just about what he put in the box, but how he layered it, built it up, and messed with it. It's this dance between control and chance, something all artists struggle with. The surface is a whole trip. You've got these see-through, drippy bits playing with dense, opaque stuff. There’s a red thing – is it a flower? – suspended like it's floating in space. And those drips! They're like frozen action, a record of the making. It reminds me of Schwitters’ Merzbau, that same hoarder vibe, turning trash into treasure. Ultimately, Conner embraces mess, and isn't life just one big, beautiful mess?