Study for ‘I am the Abyss and I am Light’ 1928

Curator: This is Charles Sims's "Study for ‘I am the Abyss and I am Light’," housed here at the Tate. It’s quite the enigmatic composition, wouldn't you say? Editor: Enigmatic indeed. The layering of the grey washes and the stark red slashes creates a sense of unease, like something struggling to emerge. I wonder what kind of brushes he was using. Curator: Sims's later work, including this piece, became increasingly spiritual, reflecting perhaps a reaction to the horrors of World War I and his own mental health struggles. The title itself suggests a duality, a tension between darkness and illumination. Editor: It's intriguing how the title speaks to this conflict. The materials, especially the diluted oils, give it a provisional feel, as if the abyss and the light are still being worked out, still in process. Curator: I think so too. It’s interesting that the Tate holds this study; It reminds us how creative processes are as significant as finished artworks. Editor: Absolutely, and examining the process helps us to understand not only how it was made, but why it matters.