Imperial Cities 1994

Editor: So, here we have Joyce Kozloff's "Imperial Cities" from 1994, a mixed-media painting that reminds me a bit of a beautiful, ornate quilt made of city maps. I'm really drawn to how she combines what looks like really detailed urban plans with these decorative borders, creating an almost cartographic tapestry. What grabs your attention when you look at it? Curator: It’s funny you mention a quilt because that domestic, textile-like quality is so crucial. Kozloff is playing with the "feminine" and decorative, elevating these supposedly lesser art forms to the scale of history painting, and the high-minded theme of "imperial cities". What’s so fascinating, isn't it, is the collision between those meticulously rendered cityscapes—each one a powerhouse of its own right—and those incredibly vibrant, almost playful, borders. Does that resonate with you? Editor: Definitely! It makes me think about power and who gets to represent these spaces. It feels almost like she's questioning the grand narratives of these imperial cities through a more personal and intimate lens. But, I also wonder about the technique - how did she combine the detailed maps with these colorful, geometric patterns? Curator: Exactly. Look closely – are these patterns wholly abstract, or do you discern little hints of those places imbedded in their motifs and palette? Kozloff's process often involves layering images, creating a kind of visual palimpsest where past and present, personal and political, are intertwined. The geometric designs function a little like memory, echoing the histories embedded within each city, filtered through a deliberately "decorative," often feminine vocabulary. Don’t you feel she's pushing us to question, *who* are the people whose experiences we usually overlook when we fetishise powerful places? Editor: That's such a powerful point. I'd never considered it that way, that it uses decoration to show those unspoken histories of individuals whose stories are embedded in the land. Curator: And it reframes the idea of "imperial," doesn't it? From a conquering force to the cumulative human story. Editor: Absolutely! This has really shifted how I view not only this piece, but the whole concept of cityscapes in art.