[no title: p. 337] 1970

Curator: This intriguing piece, simply titled "[no title: p. 337]," is by the artist Esq Tom Phillips. The work resides in the Tate Collections. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: The contrast immediately strikes me—the dark, almost chaotic hatching above, set against the highlighted, narrative text below. It's like two worlds colliding on the page. Curator: Indeed. Phillips often incorporates found materials and collage techniques. The selected text emphasizes labor, illness, and social hierarchies within the doctor-patient relationship, revealing the consumption of care. Editor: From a formal perspective, I see the strategic use of green to highlight specific phrases, guiding the eye and creating a visual pathway through the dense text. The overlaid mark-making obscures while simultaneously revealing fragments of meaning. Curator: Precisely. Phillips challenges our traditional understanding of reading and seeing, prompting us to consider the underlying structures that shape our perceptions of text and image. Editor: It’s a compelling piece. I am captivated by the way the artist guides us through it.