[no title] 1998

Curator: Here we have an untitled etching by John Walker, made in 1995, currently held at the Tate. Editor: It has a primal energy, doesn't it? The rough, almost violent scratching of the plate, and the stark contrast between light and shadow, suggests something being unearthed, something ancient. Curator: Walker was deeply interested in the role of abstraction after Abstract Expressionism. He often combined it with figuration. This image relates to his series on Alvarez, drawn from Samuel Beckett’s play. Editor: The figure's skull-like head and the contorted pose resonate with religious iconography of death. It almost suggests a fallen saint or a forgotten deity stripped of its power, returning to dust. Curator: Perhaps, but I see the work also as a critique of institutional power. Walker was interested in how the figure could become an instrument of socio-political commentary. Editor: Whether saint or symbol of power, it's the rawness that speaks. This isn't about clear narratives but about evoking a deeper, almost subconscious reaction. Curator: Ultimately, the print embodies Walker’s explorations into the intersection of form, content, and the political landscape. Editor: Yes, a landscape of the psyche as much as society, etched in ink.