Cook Kit 28x22in Mixed Media on Paper 2017

Editor: David Michael Hinnebusch's "Cook Kit," from 2017, created with mixed media on paper. It’s a really intriguing piece – the layering and juxtaposition of images feels chaotic but also strangely familiar. What do you see in this piece, from your perspective? Curator: What immediately strikes me is the prominent eye symbol, almost floating within that strong blue shape. Eyes, throughout art history, have served as conduits of perception, of surveillance, and often, spiritual insight. Here, nestled amongst the collage elements, it seems to be asking us what and how we see. Do you think the artist intends for it to be a window, or perhaps a reflection of our own gaze back at us? Editor: That's a great point, I hadn't focused on that so much, and like a reflection staring back. What do you mean by window or reflection? Curator: It could be a window onto the artist's inner world, their observations, or anxieties – particularly given the layered imagery reminiscent of fleeting memories. Or it could be reflective, suggesting the viewer is implicated in the "cook kit" process of creation and observation. Look how he uses recognizable, and not recognizable faces. What is he trying to represent with all these faces? Editor: Ah, I see what you mean. I initially thought it was simply an assemblage of unrelated images, but your reading brings a new layer of meaning about how they may be related or the memory they serve. Curator: Precisely. Hinnebusch uses these fragmented images to hint at a deeper narrative. What the overall image symbolizes depends upon the viewer, their experience, and knowledge. Editor: I definitely feel like I'm seeing it in a new light now! Thanks so much for helping understand this work! Curator: You are very welcome.