If The Shoe Fits 1981

Curator: Here we have Richard Deacon's "If The Shoe Fits," created in 1981. It’s a mixed-media sculpture, primarily utilizing metal. What's your immediate reaction to this piece? Editor: It strikes me as both industrial and oddly organic. The corrugated metal gives it a harsh, factory-like feel, yet the curved shapes suggest something softer, maybe even biological, almost like a shell. There’s a real tension between the materials and form. Curator: I find it interesting to view it through the lens of conceptual art, a movement that Deacon was associated with. The title itself invites consideration; it sets us off trying to consider this art object’s functionality. In Deacon’s world of shapes and forms, are the industrial materials commenting on gendered societal expectations implied by the reference to shoes and 'fitting'? Editor: I definitely agree. The title and the circular forms call for an intersectional perspective. Whose foot are we talking about fitting, exactly? Is this referencing gender roles, class, or even accessibility to opportunity? The work is compelling in how it prompts these kinds of questions. The ovoid void against the muted silver backdrop can make one consider limitations and visibility at once. Curator: That connects well to the art's place within the sociopolitical landscape of the early 1980s. During that time, there were changes in the post-industrial era. Sculptors, including Deacon, were trying to transform those materials, moving them into gallery settings and attempting to generate new critical dialogues. Editor: And to that point, it resists easy categorization, which is one of its strengths. The work is not conventionally pretty. It confronts us with its mass and materiality and makes you question the boundaries of beauty. Where and why, if we could step back further, can we find aesthetic satisfaction? Curator: Considering how galleries influence art perceptions, I can say this work challenged those spaces as it defied classical sculptural conventions with its unconventional form and everyday materials. Editor: Precisely, its boldness makes me wonder what contemporary social norms will soon look passé to us. Thank you. Curator: I'm appreciative to consider it as something not to merely admire but to reflect on our evolving culture. Thanks.