E.S.P. Fluxkit c. late 1960s

Curator: This is "E.S.P. Fluxkit" by James Riddle, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Notice the arrangement of vividly colored cards and the accompanying instructional text. Editor: It has such a playful, almost childlike air to it, yet there's a subversive element that makes me think it's more than just colorful cards. Curator: Indeed. The work delves into the concept of extra-sensory perception, challenging our assumptions about sight and sensory input. The printed instructions encourage tactile exploration of color. Editor: Right! The idea that you could "learn to distinguish between the different colors" with a blindfold... it’s ironic, or maybe hopeful. Curator: The piece questions the nature of perception itself, the relationship between seeing and knowing. Editor: Exactly, it prompts one to consider where knowledge truly comes from, from sight or through another sense? Fascinating! Curator: It’s a conceptual game, a challenge to the viewer's understanding of reality. Editor: I'm left wondering what colors I’d sense with my fingertips.