[no title] 1998

Editor: This untitled etching by John Walker, created in 1995, presents a figure with what appears to be a bird-like mask. The scratchy, sparse lines give it a somewhat unsettling, dreamlike quality. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, unsettling is a good word. I see a haunting quality, like a memory half-formed. Walker often explored themes of identity and ritual, didn’t he? Is it a distortion, a commentary, or perhaps a reflection of inner turmoil? Editor: A reflection, you think? Curator: Absolutely. It could be a distorted self-portrait, a glimpse into the artist's psyche. The starkness of the etching amplifies the raw emotion. What do you make of the scale? Editor: It feels intimate, like a secret whispered. Curator: Precisely. Walker invites us to lean in, to confront the uncomfortable truths within ourselves. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It definitely gives me a lot to consider, thank you!