Murmur 2003 - 2004

Curator: Ellen Gallagher's "Murmur," currently residing in the Tate Collection, presents a rather haunting installation. What strikes you first? Editor: It's intensely spectral, almost like witnessing echoes of forgotten stories. The stark contrast of light and shadow certainly amplifies that effect. Curator: Gallagher often explores historical narratives through fragmented imagery. The projected images evoke vintage film stills, prompting questions about representation and visibility. There's a cultural memory at play. Editor: Absolutely. And those antiquated film projectors create this explicit connection to the mechanics of image-making. It's not just what we see, but how we're seeing it, that becomes central. Curator: Exactly, and it also reveals how the institution of art shapes these projections—both literally and figuratively. Editor: Indeed. This piece forces us to confront the politics inherent in looking, doesn't it? Very unsettling. Curator: It lingers in the mind long after you’ve left the room. Editor: A haunting, necessary echo.