Take Two, D.H.O.M.S., Vol. I, No. 3 1973 - 2001

Curator: At first glance, this work, Take Two, D.H.O.M.S., Vol. I, No. 3, by Bruce Conner, feels chaotic, almost claustrophobic. Editor: Absolutely. There is so much information packed into such a small space—the plate is only about 7 x 9 inches. It makes me think about the density of modern life, the constant barrage of images. Curator: Conner was deeply engaged with the counterculture movement. We can read this collage as a reflection of postwar anxiety and the search for meaning amid mass media. Editor: The title, D.H.O.M.S., which stands for Department of الهام Om Science, suggests a commentary on institutional power, specifically how the military-industrial complex was influencing art. Curator: I see it too. There’s a deliberate ambiguity here. Conner is both critiquing and participating in the visual language of his time. Editor: It's a powerful reminder of how art can reflect and challenge the dominant ideologies around us. Curator: Indeed. Conner’s work pushes us to question what we see and why.