Conventionofslydiscussants 1976

Editor: Here we have Stanley Boxer's "Conventionofslydiscussants," a print from an unknown date, held at the Tate. It's a dreamy scene, almost like a faded memory. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Given Boxer's abstract expressionist roots, I see this as a meditation on the labor of image-making. Consider the printing process itself - the layering of colors, the physical act of pressing the plate. Does it suggest a dialogue about value, about what we deem worthy of artistic effort? Editor: That's a very different perspective than mine, I must admit. I was caught up in the imagery! Curator: But aren't the images themselves products of a material process? And doesn't that process inevitably shape our understanding and, ultimately, the value we assign to it? Editor: I see what you mean. It's like uncovering the hidden work that goes into creating the illusion. Curator: Exactly. Reflecting on the labor and materials allows a deeper appreciation, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. I’ll be thinking about the artist's hand, and the printing press, much more closely now.