A Joy Beast 1962

Curator: Cecil Collins, born in 1908, was a British artist known for his visionary and symbolic works. Here we have his piece "A Joy Beast," housed within the Tate Collections. Editor: It looks like a playful shadow, almost like a child's drawing of a fantastical creature. There's a lightness despite the stark black ink. Curator: Collins often explored themes of innocence and the human spirit. His recurring motifs, like fools and angels, represented a kind of spiritual awakening against the materialism of the modern world. Editor: Yes! The Joy Beast feels like an untamed spirit, almost like a playful demon or a misunderstood forest sprite. Curator: Collins believed that joy was a revolutionary force, so naming this image A Joy Beast infers the power of joy and the subconscious. Editor: So it's not just a whimsical doodle; it's a reminder to find joy even in the darkest of corners. I like that. Curator: Indeed. It seems Collins was trying to remind us to appreciate the power of joy and what that can awaken within our inner selves. Editor: I am beginning to feel the joy within myself. Thanks for sharing.