Pacific Eye 1972

Curator: Before us is Lawrence Daws' screenprint, "Pacific Eye," held in the Tate collection. Its dimensions are roughly 610 by 613 millimeters. Editor: It's rather disquieting, actually. That immense, fleshy form dominating the churning blue… It evokes a sense of submerged power. Curator: Indeed. Daws manipulates perspective, juxtaposing the macro—that fleshy form you mention—with the implied vastness of the ocean below. The abrupt cropping only heightens the tension. Editor: The hand, or the suggestion of one, appears almost godlike, looming over the water. Is it benevolent, or threatening? The eye shape is ambiguous, perhaps even lunar. Curator: Precisely. The artist uses negative space to imply meaning, asking us to consider how we interpret form and void in equal measure. Editor: It’s a memorable image, one that resonates with primordial fears and perhaps a reverence for the unseen forces of nature. Curator: A striking piece that showcases Daws' exploration of perception and the subtle manipulation of compositional elements.