Hooked 

Curator: Here we have “Hooked” by Scott Fraser, incorporating photography and collage. What strikes you when you look at it? Editor: It’s oddly… playful? The blue background, the goldfish cracker… But there's also the fishhook, so there’s this unsettling juxtaposition. It feels like a memory, a riddle almost. What's your read on this piece? Curator: It tickles the subconscious, doesn't it? The composition is deceptively simple. You’ve got this childlike innocence in the form of the goldfish cracker – remember those? But then, WHAM, reality bites with the cold, hard fishhook. And look closely: it’s suspended by a flimsy string, seemingly supported by a humble clothespin. A precarious balance. It almost seems as though the clothespin represents someone in particular who is holding back harm from happening. I’m suddenly overcome with nostalgia. How about you? Editor: Yes! That’s so true! It definitely does have nostalgic tones. I see the elements – the hook, the cracker, the string and clothespin – now, are these physical objects or clever photographs or some sort of combination, some mixed media? Curator: Ah, the artist blurs the line between photography and collage. It adds another layer of intrigue, doesn't it? Is it real? Is it a fabrication? I’d say it is most definitely BOTH! That, in itself, suggests something profound! How does it sit with you, knowing it can be read either way? Editor: That liminal space… It's the sweet spot where art makes us question everything. So it’s asking: Where does reality begin and artifice end? Curator: Exactly! Or, where does the innocence of childhood end, and the harsh realities of the world begin? Or does the fisherman lure in those prone to follow? Editor: Wow! Okay, so what I initially perceived as playful is actually… well, really loaded with deeper themes about vulnerability, memory, and the passage of time. It makes a powerful statement by employing some simple components! Curator: Yes, simplicity that belies complexity. Art's greatest magic trick, don’t you think?