Untitled: Ramp/Drums 2010

Curator: Before us, we have Phyllida Barlow’s "Untitled: Ramp/Drums," a mixed-media installation from 2010. Editor: It strikes me immediately as playful, almost cartoonish in its simplicity. The bold green ramp contrasts sharply with the looming cylindrical forms. It feels precarious, teetering on the edge of chaos. Curator: Barlow’s work often plays with notions of monumentality and anti-monumentality, challenging traditional sculptural forms. She is deeply interested in how materials shape space and how we interact with built environments. Consider her practice within the context of post-war sculpture where artists questioned established aesthetics. Editor: The choice of lime green is interesting. It’s so artificial, not a color you'd find in nature dominating the scene. It reminds me of mid-century playgrounds, a deliberate infantilization. The "drums," though, have a weight, a silent power. They evoke industrial forms, maybe grain silos, or even defensive fortifications. Curator: Barlow herself talks about creating works that are awkward and obstructive, disrupting the smooth flow of institutional space. Her use of everyday materials—cardboard, plaster, scrim—speaks to the transient nature of urban environments and the processes of decay and renewal. Editor: The juxtaposition is so curious. The ramp suggests upward movement, aspiration even, while the drums seem grounded, heavy. The lime green, could that also represent new beginnings? Curator: I think your interpretation resonates with Barlow's intentions. Looking at it from an institutional viewpoint, her work can be read as a comment on the grand narratives perpetuated within gallery walls. By creating temporary and often unstable structures, she’s undercutting the idea of permanence typically associated with art. Editor: It seems to suggest art's role should not be one of intimidating reverence, but accessibility and invitation. It definitely prompts a reassessment of symbols of power in a museum. Curator: Indeed. I find that revisiting this particular piece of hers allows us to view this museum space as a field of dialogue. Editor: For me, the ramp is more than a challenge, it represents how art opens our thinking toward new possibilities.