[no title] 1993

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the stark duality – a sense of journey on the left, and a shadowed presence on the right. Editor: Indeed. This diptych by Ian McKeever invites contemplation. It’s an untitled piece, part of the Tate collection, combining text and image. Curator: The text becomes an image, doesn't it? A receptacle. Consider the phrases: light altering in intensity... who no longer waits... These words resonate with longing and a search for illumination within the darker aspects of existence. Editor: I read it as a subtle critique of romanticised notions of nature. The "pool beneath an oak" seems almost cliché, yet the fragmented phrases alongside introduce uncertainty, destabilising any singular interpretation. It's about the lived experience, not the ideal. Curator: Absolutely. The hanging lichen, the moss, the shadow play – these are all symbols steeped in history. They remind us of the cyclical nature of time, the fragility of memory, and the persistent presence of the past in the present. McKeever creates a liminal space where these themes converge. Editor: And perhaps, that's the point. The work serves as a reminder to question what we think we know and to appreciate the beauty found in the overlooked corners of our world.