David King 1972

Curator: This is Barry Flanagan's "David King", a work currently held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It has a rather raw, almost unfinished quality—the dots create such a striking texture! Curator: Absolutely. Flanagan's process here feels almost like a sketch, prioritizing the immediate, physical act of mark-making and the way the materials render that act. Editor: I’m intrigued by the subject's gaze; it carries a weight of experience, suggesting layers of identity and perhaps a confrontation with societal norms or political structures. Curator: Indeed, Flanagan was always keen to challenge conventional definitions of art. Here, the choice of such simple means really throws the focus back on the labor and the impact it has. Editor: It’s interesting how this piece invites contemplation on the relationship between artistic labor and societal engagement. Curator: It certainly gives us a lot to consider about the making of art and its place in the world.