Hedges I 1977

Curator: This is Ivor Abrahams' "Hedges I," held here at the Tate. The image measures approximately 140 by 102 centimeters. It strikes me as quite a powerful statement on the cultivated landscape. Editor: The overwhelming green gives the work a sense of almost oppressive control, doesn't it? A perfect yard is a symbol of social expectation, and perfection is always an exclusive goal. Curator: Abrahams frequently explores these themes of domesticity and the constructed environment. The use of what appears to be screen printing allows for a mass produced and manufactured feel. Editor: And the choice of a hedge, in particular, speaks to boundaries and exclusion. Who is kept in, and more importantly, who is kept out? Curator: Thinking about labor, I consider the ongoing upkeep of such a manicured space. Someone's hands shaped this. Editor: Yes, there's a hidden narrative about the labour that sustains these ideals, and whose labour it is. Thank you for pointing that out. Curator: This has given me a new perspective. Editor: Indeed, food for thought.