Lyla 1966

Curator: Marc Vaux's "Lyla," currently residing in the Tate Collections, strikes me as remarkably serene. The composition is so reduced. Editor: Indeed, that limited palette and those clean geometric forms suggest a highly deliberate approach to art production. How do you think its materiality influenced Vaux's practice? Curator: The scale is considerable, over two meters wide. That coupled with the simplified forms forces a concentrated engagement. It’s less about spontaneous expression and more about considered design. Editor: Do you see a connection to hard-edge painting? It's hard not to reflect on the post-war emphasis on industrial materials and processes. Curator: It’s so interesting how such apparent simplicity can invite so much contemplation about art-making and reception. Editor: I agree. It really focuses the mind on what, visually, constitutes a satisfying whole.