Untitled 2006

Editor: This is Roger Hiorns's "Untitled," a sculpture of engine parts covered in blue crystals, displayed on a shelf. It's so unexpected; what's your take on how he uses these materials? Curator: Hiorns transforms discarded machine parts through a deliberate, alchemical process. The introduction of crystal changes the labor-intensive object into a precious commodity, inviting us to consider consumption and value. How does the display method itself shape your perception? Editor: The shelf definitely gives it a sense of being cataloged, almost like a museum specimen! Curator: Precisely. Hiorns blurs boundaries between industrial production, scientific display, and artistic creation, prompting us to question these categories. This subverts traditional art hierarchy and makes a statement about the working class through the use of labor. Editor: So interesting how something seemingly rigid becomes delicate. I never considered it that way. Curator: Art's power lies in that ability to transform our view of the everyday.