Canto VIII: [no title] 1982

Curator: This print, without a specific title, is part of Esq Tom Phillips’s “Canto VIII” series and is held in the Tate Collections. The piece presents a rather curious arrangement of horseshoes, a hand, and an ambiguous figure. Editor: My first impression is one of fragmented folklore—a surreal blend of lucky charms and unsettling imagery. The textures create a visual cacophony. Curator: Indeed. Phillips often layers meaning through found text and imagery, challenging our understanding of authorship and artistic process. The use of screen printing allows for a mass-produced feel, juxtaposed with unique artistic interventions. Editor: I'm drawn to the stark contrast between the grey ground and the rust tones. It accentuates the flat picture plane, emphasizing the symbolic weight of each element. Curator: Looking at the role of chance and deliberate design, one sees a meditation on the human condition—perhaps on luck, labor, and the stories we tell ourselves. Editor: A fitting conclusion. It leaves one pondering the narrative threads Phillips weaves so subtly.