Crypt of Kirkstall Abbey (after J.M.W. Turner) 

Curator: Looking at this work, "Crypt of Kirkstall Abbey (after J.M.W. Turner)" by David Cox, I’m struck by the way Cox engages with architectural ruins. The layers of history speak to the narratives of displacement and how spaces transform and are reclaimed over time. Editor: Immediately, what grabs me is the interplay of light and shadow. There's a deliberate use of contrast, especially in the arches and columns. It guides the eye, creates a beautiful structural harmony. Curator: It's not just structural; the choice to depict the Abbey as a shelter for livestock prompts consideration of power dynamics – the sacred repurposed. How does a holy space reconcile with providing sanctuary to animals deemed ‘less than?’ Editor: Precisely! But observe the formal elements. The columns, how they recede and establish depth. The repetitive arch motif—see how they serve as echoing chambers for light? Notice the colour washes, layering and subtle gradations? Curator: Yes, and this also can raise questions regarding access, particularly in relation to class. These are no longer spaces exclusively for religious elites. This invites us to consider the economic realities that render such spaces accessible, or inaccessible, to different social groups. Editor: I can't disagree about your observations about contemporary economic conditions, yet, consider this as simply about form. The textured application of watercolor suggests decay. But even that decay contributes to the overall pictorial texture. There's beauty in the fragmentation, you see. Curator: Absolutely. But isn't it more compelling when that aesthetic beauty intertwines with questions of what is valued, who has access, and what transformations reveal about shifting social priorities? These ruins prompt dialogues. Editor: I acknowledge that there is more that this artwork may offer, however I still keep returning to the structural language: the columns speaking to time and how its erosions add more complexity to these shapes. Curator: Yes, there is more than can be offered from both of our voices.