Pillow Bust 2006

Curator: Standing before us is Kate Carr's "Pillow Bust" from 2006, a fascinating exploration using what appears to be 3D printed material. Its form and presentation evoke such tranquility... like a dream about geometry, almost. Editor: A dream, perhaps… or maybe a carefully deconstructed one? Immediately, I see the interplay of pure form. The stark, almost minimalist shape of the ‘pillow’ sits atop a simple cubic base, generating an interesting dialogue between the organic and the geometric. The monochrome palette further intensifies this contrast, no? Curator: Absolutely. The near-absence of color forces us to confront the form head-on, allowing the subtle curves and tensions to come to the forefront. The slight asymmetry, too, hints at an unease, a sort of imperfection of an object typically associated with rest and comfort. It’s unsettling, which I find deliciously human. Editor: Indeed. It’s a calculated disruption. We instinctively read the object as familiar - a pillow - but the sharp edges and rigid material defy that expectation. Think of Roland Barthes and his theories around signs: the ‘pillow’ is the signifier, while comfort might be the signified. Here, Carr challenges and complicates that conventional relationship. The smooth white texture creates an intriguing allure that makes me want to analyze it more deeply. Curator: Exactly, its very 'pillow-ness' is questioned. Do you think Carr invites us to re-evaluate our associations? Perhaps it prompts us to reflect on the sometimes rigid structures of our own supposed havens and comforts. That material makes me think too about modern methods; what do you suppose is achieved in this presentation when an age-old symbol for relaxation gets made through technological invention? Editor: Well, from a formal perspective, 3D printing allows for a precision and control that manual sculpting might not achieve. It could allow the artist to precisely map that distortion you mention. The pristine surface of the printed material makes this an exciting project in modern art and tech coming together to create tension between an otherwise "cozy" association and a newer way of thinking about art making. It also emphasizes the conceptual intent, doesn't it? A pristine object for an intellectual study on contemporary thought and domestic iconography, let's say. Curator: Indeed! Overall, a fascinating piece. Makes one re-think the nature of home and, actually, technology's hand in our inner lives, if that makes sense! Editor: Precisely! Its success resides precisely in its deceptively simple form. The ‘Pillow Bust’ offers a unique contemplation on form, familiarity, and the subtle subversions that can unlock fresh perceptions, wouldn't you agree?