The Song of the Wheels c. 1970

Editor: Michael Mathers' "The Song of the Wheels" is a moody photograph, all stark contrasts in black and white. The single figure seems dwarfed by the industrial setting. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Ah, yes, that sliver of light splitting the darkness... It whispers of hope, doesn't it? The worker, bathed in its glow, pushing onward. Makes you wonder about his dreams amidst the machinery, doesn’t it? Editor: It does. It’s like he's pushing into a new day. Curator: Or escaping the old one! Perhaps the song isn't just of the wheels, but of his spirit, grinding away yet searching for its own bright tune. What do you think the artist wanted us to feel? Editor: I think he wanted us to feel the weight of work, but also the resilience of the worker. Curator: Beautifully put. It’s a dance between the heavy and the hopeful. I'll never look at a factory the same way again. Editor: Me neither. Thanks for opening my eyes to this, I never would have caught that.