Retirando el cemento de la fachada 1999

Curator: The focus on the 'Retirando el cemento de la fachada,' or Removing the Cement from the Facade, by Lara Almarcegui, made in 1999, grabs you, right? What strikes me most about this mixed-media piece, particularly given its site-specific nature, is how it challenges conventional notions of artistic creation and labor. What do you make of it? Editor: Well, immediately I’m drawn to the contrast between the exposed brick and the remaining facade. There’s something very raw and honest about revealing the building's history in that way. How do you interpret the act of "removing" as an artistic statement? Curator: The removal becomes the primary act of creation. Almarcegui isn’t adding material but rather subtracting, exposing. Consider the labor involved: the physical act of removing cement, typically a construction task, is repositioned as art. It elevates the mundane, questioning what constitutes valuable labor. Where does the 'art' reside - in the action, the exposed material, or the dialogue it sparks? Editor: That’s fascinating. So, you're suggesting the artwork resides not just in the final image, but in the physical labor and process of its creation. It also seems to critique the constant layering and masking that happens in urban environments. Curator: Precisely. The work is both an aesthetic intervention and a social commentary. Almarcegui’s approach highlights the materials themselves – the brick, the cement, and the act of removal – making us conscious of the building’s construction and its life cycle within the urban environment. How does understanding that perspective impact your initial reaction to the image? Editor: I see the act of revealing the brick as a powerful statement on urban development. It really gives an artistic voice to this building, and the labour and materials behind it. Curator: And there you have it, a focus on the tangible reality underlying our built environment and social practices. Editor: I’ve never thought about the process of subtracting as a key element in art, so this discussion reframed the way I understand this piece and art more broadly. Thanks.