The Tower 2020

Editor: Here we have Zoe Hawk’s 2020 painting, "The Tower," an acrylic on canvas piece. There's this strong sense of impending doom... or maybe even liberation? The figure is so off-balance, seemingly falling from a wooden platform. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This painting, to me, is a powerful exploration of control, or lack thereof, particularly relevant in our contemporary moment. The figure's white dress, coupled with the stormy backdrop, creates a stark contrast. It brings to mind ideas of vulnerability and the disruption of societal expectations imposed on women, especially the illusion of pristine innocence. How does the ladder feature in your understanding of this piece? Editor: I see it as an escape route, maybe a symbol of opportunity, but it’s also precarious, adding to the feeling of instability. Do you think the artist is referencing any particular historical or mythical narratives with the 'tower' imagery? Curator: Absolutely. The title immediately evokes the Tower card in tarot, representing sudden, often painful, change and the shattering of old structures. Given Hawk’s interest in girlhood and societal constraints, I wonder if she's positioning the collapse of this ‘tower’ as a necessary upheaval, a breaking free from imposed norms. The figure isn’t necessarily falling; she might be diving, choosing agency even amidst chaos. Considering modernism, it breaks from the canon. Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn't considered the active choice within the chaos. It's interesting to view the instability as a conscious decision rather than just an accident. Curator: Exactly. It forces us to question what appears to be a disaster. Is it truly a downfall, or a necessary step toward rebuilding on more solid, self-defined ground? That's the ongoing conversation about power, control and gender. Editor: I’ll definitely be looking at Zoe Hawk's work in a new light now. Curator: And hopefully, this offers a wider lens through which we see women claiming the reins and charting change in a way that acknowledges an intersectional dialogue.