Fairy Tree No. 5 1971

Editor: Alan Davie’s “Fairy Tree No. 5” is a large, striking piece. The forms feel totemic, almost like figures in a ritual. What do you see in this painting? Curator: The symbolism in Davie's work invites us to consider the intersections of cultural narratives. The title hints at folklore, but the shapes disrupt traditional notions. How might we read this as a reclamation of identity, subverting dominant narratives through abstract expression? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered it in terms of subversion, more as personal mythology. Curator: Exactly! And personal mythologies always exist in relation to societal structures. Thinking about Davie’s biography and the mid-century art world, how might his symbols negotiate those boundaries? Editor: I see it now, that gives me a lot to think about. Curator: Indeed, art is always an invitation to consider the complex layers of meaning.