Bass Casio 1994

Curator: So, we're looking at Dan Christensen's "Bass Casio," an acrylic on canvas created in 1994. My immediate reaction is its atmospheric depth. It’s both calming and a bit unsettling. What do you think? Editor: My initial thought goes right to the technique, to the process involved in its making. I see a dialogue between intentional form, the circles, and the almost accidental application of spray, creating this incredible shimmering effect. It’s reminiscent of industrial processes meeting organic shapes, really challenging our traditional art categories. Curator: Absolutely. The spray technique makes me think about our cultural moment, of accessible and readily available mediums. Seeing these spectral geometric shapes also draws my attention to its position between the macro, cosmos, and micro, cellular. What did this mean for the communities of the early 90's when it came out? The title itself suggests something musical, accessible technology for creating and making. Editor: Right, thinking about that musical aspect leads me to consider what’s usually a very structured creation process for musical instruments and comparing it to the application of color here. You mentioned the cosmos and cellular—perhaps Christensen is drawing on the construction of not only manufactured tools, but nature and art? Curator: And to add another layer, consider the name "Casio," referencing Japanese technology, and the title paired with abstraction. How does the technology change cultural creation and influence the accessibility and production of artwork, blurring lines of high and low, global and local, in both music and the art world? It makes one question the implications of these developments for diverse artistic communities. Editor: It does complicate notions of authenticity and originality. The shimmer, achieved through seemingly industrial techniques, grants the canvas this captivating presence. We can analyze art historical lineage, sure, but by focusing on the artist’s approach, we connect more profoundly to the artwork as something made. It is also something being purchased, sold, consumed as part of market. Curator: Considering all this, the simplicity of its execution really resonates with its social messaging. Editor: Precisely. It is an examination of the construction of modern art and society itself.