5-cm Shell 1863

Editor: This object, titled "5-cm Shell," was made in 1863 by Constructie Werkplaats out of metal. It looks like a dark metal bottle or vessel. There's a label stuck on it with a number, "1297." What strikes me is its almost mundane presentation, despite clearly being a potentially destructive object. What's your take on this piece? Curator: It's chillingly ordinary, isn't it? And that's precisely the point. To see a shell, an instrument of war, stripped of its immediate context is powerful. In 1863, during a period marked by industrial advancements applied to warfare, this shell embodies a shift in power dynamics. Its simplicity masks the violence it represents, prompting us to consider how industrialization distances us from the consequences of conflict. Editor: That's a really interesting point about industrialization! The distancing effect is definitely there. It makes you think about the human cost, removed and abstracted. Curator: Exactly! The label, “1297,” adds another layer. It's reduced to a statistic, further dehumanizing it. How does it make you feel to consider the piece now that you've unpacked these socio-historical elements? Editor: It definitely feels less neutral now, less like just an object. Knowing the context makes it feel like a quiet indictment. I initially just saw a thing, now I see a statement, which I think is the artist’s intention, or maybe your curatorial perspective at work! Curator: Perhaps it’s a combination of both. What's clear is that art provides a lens to critically examine societal structures. This 'shell' compels us to address how systems of power sanitize destruction. Editor: I will never see this the same way. It’s great to consider something in a historical and social framework! Curator: Indeed, viewing artwork through the intersectional lens of history, sociology, and political consciousness helps us really grasp their depth and resonance.