Fresh End 1971

Curator: Stephen Buckley’s large-scale work, “Fresh End”, in the Tate Collection, strikes me initially as both fragile and subtly powerful. The monochromatic palette and visible stitching create a muted landscape of texture. Editor: It reminds me of scar tissue, the way lines of stitching create a topographical map of past ruptures and repairs. It’s difficult to ignore how this resonates with broader themes of healing, resilience, and the often-overlooked labor of repair within marginalized communities. Curator: I'm drawn to the materiality itself. The visible layers, the raised textures – they create a unique tactile experience that transcends the purely visual. The very act of stitching becomes part of the aesthetic language. Editor: Exactly. The work’s strength lies in its quiet subversion; it embodies a tactile, almost bodily dialogue with its history, mirroring our own layered experiences and the constant negotiation between vulnerability and strength. Curator: I see your point; it is a piece that encourages one to contemplate the stories held within surfaces. Editor: And how we, too, are works in progress, constantly being stitched back together.