No. XIII 1969

Editor: So, this is Ian Tyson's "No. XIII," and it's held at the Tate. Those blocky shapes—blue, grey, white—give it a sort of minimalist, almost pixelated feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, Tyson. It’s funny, isn't it? The digital age before the digital age, perhaps? It makes me think of ancient glyphs, or maybe a simplified chair. But more than that, I see a quiet sort of defiance in its simplicity. What does it evoke for you? Editor: Defiance, that's interesting! It felt more like quiet contemplation to me, but I can see how the bold simplicity could be a statement too. Curator: Precisely! Art's beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, doesn’t it? These little visual journeys are a treat.