Alumina Hydrate 

Curator: Here we have "Alumina Hydrate," a material sample manufactured by Blockson Chemical Co. Editor: It’s deceptively simple, almost clinical. It feels like looking at a dream about purity. Curator: The object speaks to the industrial production of art materials, highlighting the crucial role of chemical processes in artistic creation. Editor: It makes me think of alchemy, transforming base materials into something sublime...or at least something useful for painting. Curator: Exactly! The materiality raises questions about the commodification of art and labor involved in making a simple tube of paint. Editor: It’s a quiet piece, yet it whispers volumes about the unseen processes behind art, and that’s surprisingly powerful.