Collage 2 (The Rout of San Romano, Small Version No. I) 1957

Curator: Here we have Robyn Denny's Collage 2 (The Rout of San Romano, Small Version No. I), now part of the Tate Collections. Editor: It feels both chaotic and controlled, with those vibrant reds and blues struggling against the muted background. Are we meant to see violence here? Curator: Denny’s title references Paolo Uccello's famous battle scene. Denny, working in post-war Britain, would have known Uccello's work spoke of power, yet also the futility of war. Editor: So, these fragmented shapes, the torn edges...are they meant to convey the disintegration of order, the psychological impact of conflict? Perhaps the blue stands for cool detachment, red for raw emotion? Curator: Considering Denny's engagement with abstract expressionism and his interest in how art can communicate on a non-representational level, it can be interpreted that way. It's less about literal imagery and more about the feeling, the aftermath. Editor: The way the pieces are layered creates depth, a sense of history being built up and torn apart. It's a powerful statement, subtly made. Curator: Absolutely. It reminds us that even in abstraction, historical and social realities persist. Editor: A fascinatingly layered piece. It encourages you to look beyond the surface.