[no title] 1970

Editor: This print by Esq Tom Phillips features surreal phrases cut out of an earthy, speckled background. The words "see the breast on every star" are particularly striking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This work immediately draws me to consider the historical context of surrealism and its often-problematic treatment of the female form. Phillips seems to be engaging with this history, perhaps critiquing the male gaze by placing it within a cosmic, almost absurd framework. Editor: So you're saying it's more than just a strange phrase? Curator: Exactly. The juxtaposition of the intimate and the infinite invites us to question the power dynamics inherent in how we perceive and represent bodies, especially female bodies, within broader cultural narratives. What do you make of it? Editor: I see how it asks us to reflect on the male gaze. Thanks for sharing your perspective!