London (Bank) 2008 2009

Editor: This is John Riddy's "London (Bank)" from 2008. It's a photograph of a classical statue in a niche. The image feels very still and monumental. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The statue, framed within the architecture, reminds us of the Roman ideals adopted by the British Empire. The gray stone and classical form evoke civic virtue. What does this placement—raised, revered—imply about power and memory? Editor: It feels like it's placing the statue on a pedestal, literally and figuratively, preserving a certain narrative. Curator: Indeed. Riddy captures not just the statue but its symbolic weight. The urban setting juxtaposes the timeless with the contemporary, raising questions about how we choose to memorialize history. Editor: I see that contrast so clearly now. Curator: The image suggests a conversation between past and present. It encourages us to critically examine the narratives we inherit. Editor: Thanks, I'll definitely be thinking about those narratives.