Angels 1960

Editor: This is Cecil Collins' "Angels," housed at the Tate. I'm struck by how the stark black ink on the paper gives them a sense of both fragility and power. What do you make of these celestial figures? Curator: They seem to sprout from the subconscious. Notice how they're not conventionally beautiful; rather, they're raw, elemental, archetypal even. Collins sought to tap into a universal spirituality. What do you feel when you gaze into their ambiguous faces? Editor: A sort of peaceful solemnity. I initially saw them as guardians, but they could also be guides. Curator: Indeed! They're both earthly and otherworldly, protectors, and pilgrims. Their presence feels like a tender invitation to reflect on the divine spark within ourselves. Editor: I see that now. Collins really blurred the lines between the physical and spiritual. Curator: It is a potent reminder that perhaps the sacred resides within us all, waiting to be discovered.