Garden Emblems II 1967

Editor: Right now we're looking at Ivor Abrahams' 'Garden Emblems II' at the Tate. It's quite striking. There’s this stark contrast between a luminous green square and the cracked paving stones, all against a deep burgundy. It almost feels like a stage set. What draws your eye? Curator: It’s like a memory, isn't it? Fragmented, precise, but also…unreal. That emerald square, almost glowing, disrupts the expected garden scene, making me question if it’s a garden at all or a dream of one. Does that spark anything for you? Editor: It's funny you say that. I do love how the rigid geometry is unsettling. Like nature has been tamed a bit too much. Curator: Exactly! It's a whisper of nature, controlled and presented, almost as a specimen. I find myself wondering, what is Abrahams trying to say about our relationship with the natural world? Editor: Hmmm. Definitely gives a lot to think about. A very interesting way to view gardens.